Will sulfide mines harm Minn. streams?

Published Thursday, April 9, 2009

The Minnesota Environmental Partnership is concerned about potential environmental problems associated with new mining efforts that are under development in Minnesota.

According to MEP, several Minnesota elected officials have said that current state law is strong enough to protect taxpayers from having to pay to clean up sulfide mining pollution in our lakes and rivers that would be associated with these new mines.

MEP wonders how do they know that, since no company has ever done sulfide mining in Minnesota before? Other elected officials in states around the country probably said the same thing — and then when the sulfide mines ended up polluting nearby lakes and rivers, it was too late. The miles of streams polluted and fish killed couldn’t be undone, and the mining companies declared bankruptcy or walked away from the pollution, leaving taxpayers to pick up the tab.

MEP has learned that a few brave Minnesota lawmakers decided that we need to have standards in place to protect taxpayers and our lakes and rivers before sulfide mines begin operation. Those legislators looked at the standards that other states put in place after the sulfide mining pollution occurred, and then introduced a bill to address a few instances in which Minnesota law and rules should be strengthened.

Companies left to regulate themselves now litter Wall Street, and the federal government continues to bail them out with taxpayer money. MEP believes that Minnesota should be more proactive and not wait until it’s too late. The bill seeking to regulate the new mining operations should be given a committee hearing right away.

Jim Tjepkema

Clarks Grove

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