photo credit: Pioneer Press By Matt Doll, Minnesota Environmental Partnership This week, the Department of Natural Resources and Pollution Control Agency held two public hearings on their draft permits for the PolyMet copper-sulfide mining project, and Minnesotans showed up to make their voices heard. While Wednesday’s hearing in Aurora heard mostly pro-mining comments, the Thursday… Read more »
Loon Commons Blog
Minnesotans to Caucus February 6
By Matt Doll, Minnesota Environmental Partnership On Tuesday, February 6, Minnesota’s political parties will hold statewide precinct caucuses – the first step in the parties’ process for endorsing candidates and adopting official positions in their platforms. This is an opportunity for voters to make their voices heard on critical topics and candidates. With Minnesota electing a Governor, two U.S. Senators,… Read more »
#ONEGovForum Gets Candidates On the Record
By Matt Doll, Minnesota Environmental Partnership Minnesota Environmental Partnership is grateful to everyone who organized, participated in, and watched the Our New Environment Gubernatorial Forum on January 24. This event gave Minnesotans a chance to learn where candidates stand on critical environmental issues facing our state, including the air, land, water, and legacy funding. Though major… Read more »
Governor Candidates Forum on the Environment January 24
By Matt Doll, Minnesota Environmental Partnership With so much at stake for Minnesota’s land, air, and water in today’s political climate, our next Governor will play a crucial role in determining the future of our natural resources and the health of our communities. That’s why Minnesota Environmental Partnership and our friends and partners in the community are proud… Read more »
DNR Releases Draft Permit to Mine for PolyMet
photo credit: NASA On January 5, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources marked a major development in the PolyMet debate by releasing a draft Permit to Mine for the sulfide mining project. The permit is one of several that PolyMet would require to move forward with its proposed mine near Hoyt Lakes in Northeastern Minnesota, but its approval would… Read more »
PUC Finds Line 3 Environmental Study Lacking
By Matt Doll, Minnesota Environmental Partnership. Last week, the Public Utilities Commission declared that the environmental impact statement (EIS) for Enbridge’s proposed Line 3 oil pipeline was inadequate, and that the Department of Commerce would have to revise it within 60 days. The required changes are few in number, but this will delay the PUC’s final decision on… Read more »
Minnesota Winters Aren’t What They Used to Be
By Jeni Gregory, Minnesota Environmental Partnership Minnesotans love to talk about weather. In recent years, winter brings a flurry of conversations about the shortage of frigid days and good old-fashioned snowstorms. While this week fulfilled some fundamentals of a Minnesota winter with plunging temperatures, wind-driven snow, and treacherous driving conditions, we started the week with… Read more »
Two Bad Mining Bills Pass in House, but Fight Isn’t Over
This week, the U.S. House of Representatives voted in favor of two hazardous bills – H.R. 3115 and H.R. 3905 – that would provide major boosts to copper sulfide mining proposals in Minnesota. These bills support the PolyMet mine near Hoyt Lakes and the Twin Metals mine near Ely, respectively. The two mine proposals are in different… Read more »
MEP Has a Lot to be Thankful For
We know it’s felt like a tough year for our great outdoors, with many challenges to clean water, our greening economy, and public health in our state. But when we look at what we’ve accomplished and what we’ve defended in 2017, we find we have so many people and things to be thankful for! We’re… Read more »
Reality Check on Proposed Line 3
By Matt Doll, Minnesota Environmental Partnership Next Wednesday, November 22 will mark the conclusion of the Public Utilities Commission’s public comment period on the proposed Enbridge Line 3 pipeline. Since late September, the PUC has been collecting testimony from intervenors and members of the public on this proposal, specifically on the issue of the certificate of need and… Read more »