Polymet/Franconia Sulfide Mining-Embarrass

The Ely Timberjay asked for comments on the proposed copper/nickel mines on the Iron Range. Here's what I came up with so far:

Like every one of your neighbors human, animal, and vegetable in Northeastern Minnesota who are not motivated by greed for minerals and disregard for the true value of our resources, I must register my adamant opposition to the further consideration of the Polymet and Franconia Sulfide Mining operations being pushed by "The New generation of Mining in Minnesota."

The assertion that removal of sulfide ore here at the very top of the watershed for the North American Continent can somehow magically be done in an "environmentally responsible" manner is simply absurd. If there is a proven way to isolate, contain and remove sulfuric and hydrochloric acid from the water and land from which it is extracted, it has never been demonstrated anywhere these mines have operated in the world. There are plenty of examples of the opposite: Vast yellow-orange acid-killed wastelands where nothing green will grow, rotten-egg stinking streams of acid devoid of fish, fowl, and fauna forever. We refuse to let our year-round and vacation homes and international wilderness be laid waste like Sudbury, Ontario which was for the sake of employment in Copper/Nickel mining and smelting turned into a moonscape devoid of any living thing except the humans in that "industry."

The jobs we have in tourism and forestry are too valuable to discard for this short term gain and eternal damage. Besides that, it is just not right. The past, present and future defenders of our Boundary Waters will never allow this vicious assault to proceed.

Any truthful assessment of these operations' environmental impact without including the words "horrific", "devastating" and "irreversible" have to be drafted by the mining corporations themselves. Oh, wait, "truthful assessment" and "mining corporations" don't really fit in the same sentence, now do they? Those who have worked in the mines ought to know that by now. Remember the pensions they promised?

Sincerely, Marco Good, Grand Marais, MN.