ELY – Sulfide mining was the top local issue on the agenda last week when the Community Economic Development Joint Powers Board convened with the Ely area’s state legislators.
The local Joint Powers board, made up of elected officials from the city of Ely, city of Winton, Morse Township, Fall Lake Township, and the Ely School District, uses the annual event to discuss various issues of individual and collective interest with county, state and federal officials.
Ely Mayor Roger Skraba introduced a resolution in support of the proposed Twin Metals Minnesota copper nickel mining project. The resolution stated that Twin Metals expended more than $500 million preparing an operating plan for an underground copper nickel mine in the Rainy River watershed about eight miles from Ely.
“The imposition of a 20-year moratorium on mining the Forest Service lands in the watershed (as proposed by the Biden administration) would seriously impair and impede Twin Metals’ plans and stagnate and devastate economic development and job growth in Northeastern Minnesota,” it stated.
The resolution called for the Joint Powers Board to “strongly oppose” the withdrawal application for the 20-year term of approximately 225,378 acres of U.S. Forest Lands in the Rainy River Watershed of the Superior National Forest from disposition under the U.S. mineral geothermal leasing laws.
The expected unanimous support from the group’s voting members did not materialize. The ISD 696 representative abstained from voting, apparently because of the last-minute agenda addition.
Opposition heard
“This resolution would be for the Joint Powers members,” Skraba said in an attempt to silence any pro-environmental opposition.
Becky Rom, Ely resident and national chair of the Campaign to Save the Boundary Waters, immediately spoke up and said she and others who attended the meeting were looking forward to the analysis of the science on whether copper nickel mining in the headwaters of the Boundary Waters is appropriate.
Skraba gave Rom two minutes to speak on the issue before the board voted.
“I hope the Joint Powers Board supports both the state and federal analysis going on right now to look at whether this watershed is the right place for copper nickel mining,” Rom said. “The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency did a water quality analysis of these headwaters and found the water quality to be exceptionally clean and immaculate. It is the highest water quality of any watershed in Minnesota.”
Rom added that the MPCA said the watershed deserves more protection.
“I would urge the Joint Powers Board not to rush to judgment and say we don’t want our rules changed,”
Rom said. “You don’t know the science. No rational person would think that you can protect the Boundary Waters with what is called the most toxic industry in the country.”
She asserted that she is not attacking the state’s taconite mining industry.
“We are happy everybody pays taxes, and no one is complaining about the taconite industry paying taxes that go to the (Department of Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation). The issue is putting a copper mine upstream of the Boundary Waters. We want those telecommuters, mayor, that you talk about to continue to move here. You can’t have both. You have to pick,” Rom said.
“Do we stay on our trajectory and protect the canoe country, like we have since 1902, or do we ruin it because we think there is some short-term economic prosperity? I think you are being handed a book of crap. All copper mines around the world are being rapidly automated. This low-grade (Twin Metals) mine is not economical unless it is highly automated. It is a dumb plan and will ruin the direction of Minnesota. Let’s let the science play out,” she added.
Skraba responded, “I respectfully disagree, Becky. There isn’t one way to do it. We have to do a lot of different ways for economic development. There is not one way better than the other. There is a three-legged stool that we used to talk about many years ago with the mining, the logging and the tourism.”
Before the board could vote, a Fall Lake Township resident, Brad Sagen, added, “I point out that there are a number of us here in the back that are here because of our support for the mining withdrawal. I think you and others have simply offered misinformation on this issue. Copper nickel mining is not safe, and has never been proven safe.”
Skraba cut him off. “This discussion is among us (Joint Powers Board members),” he said.
Winton, Ely, Morse Township and Fall Lake Township representatives voted in favor of the motion. The ISD 696 representative abstained from voting.
“The motion carries 4-1,” Skraba said. “Abstention is a no vote.”
Tom Omerza, the Ely school board member who represents the local school district, pushed back on the mining resolution.
“This is something I did not know was going to be presented. How can I vote when I am not able to consult with the school board or administration? I don’t know why you put me in this spot. I can’t vote when I haven’t discussed this.”
Skraba offered no explanation to Omerza or the group on the origin of the resolution or how it was added to the agenda.
“I understand your frustration,” he said.
He did not allow Rom to comment again.