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We Support Minnesota Mining Letter To Mining Industry Supporters - May 2018

WSMM Opinion May 2018: What can we work on together?

We will use this forum to identify some of the issues facing this industry and of which many who read this are well aware. We do believe there is merit from the educational and discussion point of view to write this opinion out however. One item of note however is that discussions quickly become political in regards to mining issues. That is a given with political parties and lobbyists many of which work in differing areas of government advocating for different and sometimes conflicting causes. That being said and not wanting to waste an opportunity...

What can we as mining supporters work on together outside of political discourse?

So, WSMM  and other mining support page readers. Cut some slack and follow the thought process through for the meantime.

Here is this pages attempt at a starting point.

a) Mining is being out financed by far left foundations, billionaires with vested financial motivations, the Democratic party and national environmental extremist groups.

b) Understand that we are having to compete against organizations which are nationally financed. Hence the need for national coordination among all of the mining industry including Minnesota. If we do not there will never be relief from extremists who continually attempt to legislate via sue and settle.

c) A great example of working together in Minnesota was a recent post by the Republican Farmer Labor caucus. It listed all of the industry organizations joining together to fight an unrealistic water standard that will bankrupt mining, cities and other industry in this state. (See Graphic Down Below) 

d) David Lien of Backdoor Hunters and Anglers is a nationally financed group which supports a far left Democratic party agenda. It attempts to appear as a local group. This fellow regularly posts copy and paste opinions in multiple Minnesota and national media markets. They are full of hot air but that is not the point. Unless you are from a mining area an individual simply may not care or simply does not know any better about relevant mining issues. This national organization is attempting to formulate public opinion based on inaccurate information. It may be effective if there isn't a relevant national response.

What can we work on together?

1) Mining Industry Support Group Coordination And Shared Financing Of Media Support Efforts At A State and National Level.National Anti-Mining groups are working at a national level in terms of scope and financing. We need to as well or we will be left in the dust. From a media perspective the Minnesota mining industry may be singing to the choir if it does not address multiple media markets for those less educated in mining industry issues. Extremist groups are taking political advantage of this to the detriment of the industry. Citizens need to hear our side as well.

2) Coordinated Legislative Efforts at the Minnesota and National levels. (For example: Water standards which mining industry groups in Minnesota accept that all are affected by) We do not want to attempt to recreate a Picasso multiple times when a group think solution often times yields more productive results and coordination of efforts and resources. A great example of good work in Minnesota alone posted below. Better coordination of social support groups would work better at a national level for issues and mutual support across states. Remember opposition groups are organized nationally and we do not operate in a vacuum here.

3) A centralized mining information library with relevant resource information and covering current legislative issues.

This would provide a central source for mining supporters to reference and act upon when the need arises for support to the industry.

The use of social media is likely a need of that effort, sharing and getting the word out. What is occurring now is both a strength and weakness in terms of diversity of thought with the wheel being recreated multiple times because of a lack of coordinated resources both financially and in terms of expertise. (Social support groups)

Here is this pages effort which was financed by no one, but was developed because we believed a need was blatantly apparent in this state. It was not developed in a vacuum but by working with other support groups and interested individuals as well. What kind of resource product could be developed with industry professionals, lobbyists and legislators and financing that will assist support groups in supporting the mining industry?

We Support Minnesota Mining Resource Library

http://www.frontiernet.net/~babbittcs/WSMMRL/index.html

Information covered should be relevant to industry insiders, legislators.  lobbyists and of course mining supporters. This resource should be responsive to input and suggestions from shareholders.

4) Land Use Issues

In recent posts by WSMM, land use in northern Minnesota was discussed. In particular, the no net gain in public lands initiative. There are high rates of public land ownership with limited tax base potential. These issues need to be addressed at the legislative level in this state.

Are Payment In Lieu Of Taxes consistent if land use is going to restricted to these extremes? We can not hope to maintain viable communities if this trend continues.

The United States size - 3.797 million mi²

The federal government owns roughly 640 million acres, about 28% of the 2.27 billion acres of land in the United States.

https://fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R42346.pdf

110 million acres of designated wilderness in the US, here is a list of the other federal government 'managed' public lands.

85 million acres are National Parks
192 million acres are U.S. Forest Service lands
146.4 million acres National Wildlife Refuges

93 million acres are under the management of U.S. Fish & Wildlife
261 million acres fall under the Bureau of Land Management. 

842.6 million acres as National monuments.
https://www.theatlas.com/charts/S1c2YYZIx

The percentage of Africa that is wilderness: 28%
The percentage of North America that is wilderness: 38%

Wilderness designation in 44 states
No wilderness in Connecticut, Delaware, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Rhode Island

Public Lands in St. Louis County, MN – approximately 62%
Public Lands in Lake County, MN - approximately 84%
Public Lands in Cook County, MN – approximately 91%

Designated Wilderness in Minnesota
Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness
Tamarac Wilderness
Agassiz Wilderness  

5) Permitting Issues -

What is wrong with this picture? Polymet I believe is going on 15 years now. A workable and timely standard needs to be in place not only in Minnesota but the nation as a whole. The rest resonates with "job security", embedded environmental extremism. It does not address the needs of its citizens and industry. There should also be limitations to "sue and settle" in this state. It is the legislative responsibility to set environmental law. It is not the responsibility of the latest copy and paste environmental extremist group.  This is something that needs to be addressed.