the proposed PolyMet copper-nickel mine in the Arrowhead won’t go away. Under court pressure, the Corps has scheduled three days of public hearings on whether mine discharges could damage waters in the tribal lands of the Chippewa Fond du Lac people. The Corps, as well as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, OK’d permits for the mine during the Trump Administration’s relaxed environmental policies. The Find do Lacs sued. The court responded by ordering further review of the PolyMet plan. The new hearings will be May 3 to 5. Testimony is expected the first two days from the Fond du Lacs, the Army Corps, the Environmental Protection Agency, and PolyMet. The proceedings will be available on YouTube. The third day will be an audio teleconference call for public comment. Details.

Discharge issue

The permit sought by PolyMet would suspend U.S.. Clean Air requiremements for the discharge of dredged material into 901 acresThe Fond do Lacs say the discharge would  jeopardize 27 acres, of its waters in the Lake Superior basin.

Mine v. clean water

Tribes v. exploitation

Jobs v. environment

Biden v. Trump

Foreign ownership

Extraction v. conservation

Local economy v. greater good

Green v. global warming

Larger tax base v. pristine landscape

Wild rice harvesting v. polluted waters

Joys of fishing v. industrialization

David v. Goliath