Solus wrote on Jan 31^st, 2010 at 12:11am:


I couldn't agree more. Numbers and figures don't mean much without a solid explanation of what they mean, and general layman's descriptions provide few, if any specific details. It's irritating.


Quote:


My take is that the "cutting edge technology," as I stated above, is more of a reference to the ore processing part of the proposed mining process, not the extraction or pit reclamation. Impermeable liner systems and well networks are not really new, and certainly not cutting edge, but they are effective.


WR,

I didn't mean to offend or single you out in my response. I just feel obligated to provide verifiable facts in my replies where I can, for the benefit of anyone who happens to read this thread. If I came across as being negative, I apologize.

I agree that the groundwater situation should be looked at with as much detail as possible, and they did a pretty good job with this (remember it's a 'draft' impact statement, intended only to identify areas of concern). Groundwater flow from the mine and plant sites is generally from the NW to the SE, towards the Partridge River - which feeds the St. Louis River and eventually ends up in Lake Superior. But you're right, any contamination is unacceptable, whether it affects the BWCA or anywhere else.

Anyone who wants to see the results of the Draft EIS study with regards to local water systems should refer to section 4.1, which begins on page 135. The draft is still available for download, follow the links from the MN DNR home page.

You are also right in the "theory vs. practice" argument. Guarantees are hard to come by, and there is environmental risk involved with any industrial or chemical facility, be it a mine, a manufacturing plant, a petroleum refinery, or simple a gas station. The best we can do is evaluate the specific risks involved, and utilize the best technology and prevention practices available. But, in some cases, accidents do happen despite the best efforts of everyone involved. And it is 100% valid to argue the potential risks against the potential economic benefits.

I still believe that we should not rush into this just to create jobs. If we don't mine these deposits now, we can always mine them later, as technologies continue to improve and the commodities become more and more valuable. But that said, I don't see any reason why we can't do this safely now, provided every possible measure is taken to address and practically eliminate ALL of the risks identified in the Draft EIS, the final EIS, and the USFS-sponsored EIS that would preclude any land transfer.

And I should remind everyone again that PolyMet is a Canadian-based company, and the metals extracted by this Minnesota mine would be sold worldwide through a foreign commodities exchange. Domestic sources don't automatically mean domestic ownership of materials (unless the government itself were to start mining, and I don't think that would go over well).

*whew*

That's all I have for now. It's Saturday night, and I'm heading out for a cold one...

PJ - My apologies. I made an erroneous assumption reinforced by ST's post. I also have no clue if the guy you know was writing while wearing his team jersey or his jammies. I simply recoil whenever I smell partizan politics entering into what I consider to be rather important deliberations that politics and a deference to some ism will probably muck up.

Akula wrote on Jan 30^th, 2010 at 6:41pm:

Akula's (in particular but there were others for me) willingness to add knowledgeable input has been most helpful-IMO as he seems an objective, knowledgeable bystander. To me, this thread hasn't been as much about justifying, defending or promoting an opinion as it is about offering concerns and insights that may help others develop their own.

I recently made a crack about 13 million (and my own $400) in stimulus money in another thread so the $5,000,000.00 EIS seems like, well, lip service or (less offensive?) going through the motions to me.

Honestly, I only have a superficial interest beyond:
"If future generations are to remember us with gratitude rather than contempt, we must leave them more than the miracles of technology. We must leave them a glimpse of the world as it was in the beginning, not just after we got through with it."

       -President Lyndon B. Johnson
       on signing the Wilderness Act, 1964

My hope is anyone willing to add their two cents ( (You need to Login or Register to view media files and links) ) has done their own due diligence and has other tried and true redactive ways to gather whatever information they feel is meaningful to them. Tickety tick. A penny for your thoughts, or is it money talks? I'm thinking the latter.

Oh and my earlier link with the smiley?

http://www.google.com/finance?q=polymet 

Sorry. I wasn't playing.

A & B are interesting though:
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db wrote on Jun 8^th, 2010 at 6:53am:



I'm not sure how this whole thing works, but it sounds like the Mesabi Trust was formed back in the 60's to acquire the land that was ultimately mined for iron. If I have it right, the trust holds title to the land while a separate operator produces from it, and subsequently pays a royalty to the trust. The trust is publicly traded:

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I don't know if this will affect the PolyMet project one way or the other, but I certainly don't have all the facts on that.

In other news, PolyMet, the EPA, the USFS and others have agreed to begin a new "Supplemental" Draft Environmental Impact Statement to more clearly address the issues surrounding potential water use and contamination. For efficiency, they have decided to combine efforts with the USFS, who would have had to do their own separate EIS as part of the land exchange / sale to PolyMet. This will be another "Draft" Environmental Impact Statement, and it will be submitted for public review just like the last one, before the final EIS is constructed and submitted to the State as part of their application for a Permit to Mine.

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This new supplemental DEIS could take a year or more to complete, so whatever your stance on the issue, don't hold your breath for a Cu/Ni/PGE mine to open in Minnesota any time soon.