PFAS are ubiquitous in manufacturing, hard to destroy and known to have harmful effects in humans. 5:49 pm, Feb. 10, 2021 ×
The Lester River empties into Lake Superior in January 2021. The Lester River and other streams can carry contaminants like PFAS from runoff to the lake. (Steve Kuchera / File / News Tribune)
DULUTH Some 20 years after first confronting the contaminating-effects of human-made “forever chemicals,” the state of Minnesota introduced a blueprint Wednesday, Feb. 10, for how to prevent, manage and clean up contamination from those chemicals.
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency s blueprint seeks legislative solutions, including the designation of PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, as hazardous substances. The blueprint also seeks funding to begin broader sampling for the presence of PFAS in drinking water, fish and places such as Duluth’s Western Lake Superior Sanitary District.
A bill introduced in the Minnesota Senate would create a process to sue police officers in state court for using excessive force or taking other actions that violate individual rights without the possibility of “qualified immunity” as a defense.
St. Louis County Board joins pro-mining chorus with resolution supporting copper-nickel projects
The move Tuesday came after Iron Range lawmakers urged the establishment of a working relationship with members of President Joe Biden s cabinet. 9:09 am, Feb. 3, 2021 ×
PolyMet is reusing and reclaiming the former LTV Steel Mining site near Hoyt Lakes. (Photo courtesy of PolyMet Mining)
Fears that the state and federal governments may disrupt progress toward copper-nickel mining in Northeastern Minnesota are causing the area s elected officials to react.
Members of the Legislature’s Iron Range Delegation wrote a letter last week to President Joe Biden’s secretaries-designate of the Interior and Agriculture asking them to work closely with the state legislators.
St. Louis County Board joins pro-mining chorus with resolution supporting copper-nickel projects
The move Tuesday came after Iron Range lawmakers urged the establishment of a working relationship with members of President Joe Biden s cabinet. 9:09 am, Feb. 3, 2021 ×
PolyMet is reusing and reclaiming the former LTV Steel Mining site near Hoyt Lakes. (Photo courtesy of PolyMet Mining)
Fears that the state and federal governments may disrupt progress toward copper-nickel mining in Northeastern Minnesota are causing the area s elected officials to react.
Members of the Legislature’s Iron Range Delegation wrote a letter last week to President Joe Biden’s secretaries-designate of the Interior and Agriculture asking them to work closely with the state legislators.
VIRGINIA â St. Louis County Board members again split when passing a resolution that puts them on record supporting the current environmental review process for copper-nickel mining, specifically opposing more regulations during a Committee of the Whole meeting Tuesday.
The resolution generally states that the county board wonât support legislation that creates a moratorium on copper-nickel mining in Minnesota. Rulemaking, permitting and environmental review for proposed projects are handled at the state and federal level, prompting the all-too-familiar debate among commissioners whether Tuesdayâs vote was symbolic or whether the county was reinforcing past votes supporting the industry.
Two bills â one in the Minnesota Senate and one in the U.S. House â aim to either delay or outright block copper-nickel mining in the state. A âProve it Firstâ was introduced by State Sen. Jen McEwen, DFL-Duluth, earlier this month, that would require scientific p