projects

Minnesota Dedicated Funding for Conservation

This November, Minnesota voters have a chance to secure dedicated funding for conservation as a constitutional amendment. This
is an amazing chance for us, as Minnesotans to be the change that is needed for the natural resources that we enjoy and depend on,
and keep the natural heritage that is “Minnesota” strong.

This funding would support enhancing and protecting: Lakes, rivers, wetlands, prairies, forests, and all wildlife habitat as well as our
water sources for drinking, which go hand in hand. It would also support our parks and trail systems statewide as well as the arts
and our state cultural heritage.

According to the Minnesota department of finance: Environmental and natural resources spending accounted for 1.3% of Minnesota’s
general fund expenditures in 2007, which entails spending by many state groups such as the MN pollution control agency,
Department of Natural Resources, Water and Soil Resources Board, to name a few. Minnesota “the land of 10,000 lakes” is known
for its abundant and beautiful natural resources which account for the majority of tourism in the state. When we look at these figures
as well as how much each one of us depends on these resources it is clear that more funding is needed for our natural resources.

For the last decade the Minnesota state legislature has been working on passing a program that would fund these important
resources. This session they have succeeded in passing a bill to dedicate funding to conservation and the arts through a
constitutional amendment which will be on the November ballot for Minnesotans approval. The amendment calls for a raise in the
state sales tax of three eighths of one percent, which works out to four cents for every ten dollars spent. While this is a raise in the
sales tax it is a fairly unsubstantial amount being estimated at $50 a year for a family earning $50,000. This would generate an
estimated 280 million dollars for the fund, which is then split into 4 different sub funds. The first of these funds is the Outdoor
Heritage Fund, which would appropriate 33% of the money to protect and enhance wetlands, prairies, forests, and associated habitat
for fish, game, and wildlife. The second is the Clean Water Fund, which would also get 33% for improving water quality in lakes,
rivers, and streams critical for our clean drinking water. The third fund supplemented is the Parks and Trails Fund, where 14.25%
would go to support of parks and trails. The forth fund supported is the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund which would get 19.75% to
further arts education and preserve the state’s history and cultural heritage.

While amending the constitution may not be the answer that makes sense to all Minnesotans it is undoubtedly the answer to
guaranteeing funding to our resources that so desperately need it both now, and in the future. Many amendments have taken place in
the past and this is a natural method for putting legislation into action. As our population continues to grow and we expect more and
more out of our states natural resources it is only fitting that we give back to the resources what they need to thrive. Minnesota’s
beautiful natural resources are definitely worth more to the average Minnesotan then our spending for these resources is alluding to.
It is clear to see that we must start dedicating some funds to natural resources if we want to see them continue to thrive, and be the
symbol that is Minnesota. Copyright 2010.

The Clean Water, Land, and Legacy amendment PASSED with 56% of Minnesotans support, we can now look forward to exciting work
being done to preserve, protect, and restore our natural environment.

MN dept. of Finance info- State budget document http://www.budget.state.mn.us/budget/gov_spending_overview.pdf
.

Vermilion State Park Proposal

You may have heard about the proposal for a new state park in Minnesota. The proposal is for a 3,000 acre park on the shoreline of
Lake Vermilion, a beautiful iconic Minnesota lake. What most people probably haven’t heard is the nature of this proposal is much
different than the normal procedure. This is a very unique one time situation for the Minnesota DNR to acquire this much
undeveloped shoreline on such a pristine lake. The “bad news” is that this is a one-time shot, and we don’t have much time to make
this happen. The land is currently owned by US Steel and being proposed for development!!! The opportunity has been given to the
DNR produce a funding package to purchase the land by July 2008 or be developed, cut into small parcels, and sold to the highest
bidder. US Steel has given the DNR this amount of time to firstly develop a funding package for the park, and secondly get the
funding package approved in the 2008 legislative session which is soon upon us (begins early Feb.). The DNR commissioner
established a task force that has held meetings throughout this fall to the present to take recommendations and form plans for what
this park should include. Now it is up to us, the citizens of Minnesota and the state legislature to get this approved. If approved we
will have an amazing, one of a kind state park on one of Minnesota’s largest and most scenic lakes. The land and habitat will be
preserved and fish and wildlife will have habitat that cannot be harmed. If the land is developed countless acres of fish and wildlife
habitat will be destroyed and one of the few pristine Northwood’s lake shore areas will be degraded and privately owned. This park
would enable anyone to be able to share in the Northern Minnesota lake shore traditions and heritage, not to mention boosting state
and local economy greatly.

Some of you are undoubtedly asking “how can I help?” make Vermilion State Park a reality. I hope you are anyway because this park
would be amazing. We need to convince the legislature that this park is priority by all means possible: email, phone calls,
petitioning, letters, and lobbying at the capitol. Time is short so we need to group as many concerned citizens as possible and let
legislators know what we want. I will leave a link below to find and get contact info for your district legislators. It’s really easy, just
type in your address and it will give you legislators contact info. This link is also on our website home page. I will also leave a DNR
link where you can learn more about the park. I have established an online petition as well that I will send them at the petition link
below. If any of you have any suggestions email: contact@thenprs.org . Copyright 2010.

Legislative district finder here

DNR park info here

Story about park here

"There can be no greater issue
than that of conservation in this
country."

-Theodore Roosevelt

Projects

Dangers of Metallic Sulfide Mining Proposed in Northern Minnesota

Sulfide (non-ferrous) mining is just recently knocking on Minnesota's door and is already taking hold in other parts of our region.
There is great cause for concern with this type of mining compared to the taconite Iron mining our state is known for. Unlike taconite
mining, Sulfide mining for such metals as copper, nickel, cobalt, platinum, palladium, gold, zinc, and silver produces toxic and
environmentally degrading byproducts. Acid mine drainage of Sulfuric acid (battery acid) being a major concern as it is created
when sulfide containing minerals are exposed to oxygen and water as a result of the mining process. This sulfuric acid is then
leached into groundwater and runoff is carried to nearby streams, lakes, and wetlands. Toxic heavy metals are also suspended in
runoff, which have well documented health effects on plants, animals, and humans.

The Canadian mining company Polymet is in the process of getting approval to move into production at the Northmet mining site
located near Babbitt/Hoyt Lakes Minnesota in the Superior National Forest about 20 miles from the Boundary Waters Canoe
Area Wilderness. This site is on the Partridge River which is a tributary to the St. Louis River, which flows directly into Lake Superior.
The mine would drain over 1,200 acres of wetlands to discharge fill into, and move five billion tons of waste rock while processing
32,000 tons of ore per day. The project is set to run for 20 years 365 days a year until complete and is scheduled to start asap
pending the environmental review process. Another mining company (Franconia) is also in the planning process for a sulfide mine
at Birch Lake which is 2 years behind Northmet's planning stage and is projected to open in 2011. Birch Lake is connected to the
Kawishiwi River which then flows into the BWCAW. Franconia's mine would be an underground mine under Birch Lake as opposed
to Northmet which is an open pit mine, both having high likelihood of producing acid mine drainage, with the open pit mine being
the more environmentally destructive and cheaper alternative for the mining company.

Acid mine drainage as well as other toxic heavy metals being released into suspension in our waters would definitely mean
contaminated water for drinking, recreation, and wildlife, all things we depend on. It could mean loss of all aquatic life in some
areas and create a self-perpetuating toxic system that could cost millions to control and never return to its original state. Areas
with acid mine drainage have already been shown to raise acidity in streams enough to kill all life for several miles and areas that
produce acid mine drainage have been shown to keep producing toxic runoff for decades, centuries, and even thousands of
years. According to the US Bureau of Mines 12,000 miles of rivers and streams have already been poisoned by acid mine drainage.
While this is the first metallic sulfide mine proposed to be opened in Minnesota there have been many others in the US. Currently
Michigan's Upper Peninsula has a sulfide mining proposal by Kennecott called the Eagle mine project on the yellow dog plains (UP
MI). Kennecott is the same company that opened the Flambeau mine in Wisconsin for 4 years which caused pollution that is still
occurring after the mine closed in 1997, and has also been described as one of the top polluters nationwide. Since then Wisconsin
has adopted a mining moratorium(ban) that roughly states that they will not allow sulfide mining until a mine is run for ten years
and closed for another 10 years without producing pollution or acid mine drainage, this has not happened yet.

According to many experts there has never been a metallic sulfide mine that has not caused environmental damage. Historically
this type of mining has been done in the dry regions of the Western United States where sulfuric runoff and heavy metal leaching are
not nearly as likely as in the most "water rich" parts of the country (MN, WI, UP MI). Economics is another aspect of the proposed
mining that must be addressed. The mines would create several hundred jobs in these areas, but at what cost? These jobs would
only last 20 years (or the duration of the mine running) and have long lasting effects on the environment undoubtedly. Well that could
be good for our state maybe, right? Let's just look at the past of mining in MN and across the world; it's a boom and bust economic
scenario….Except as other examples have proven, unlike taconite mining millions of dollars will have to be spent to attempt to
restore the mined area and surrounding watershed.

This comes down to OUR water, OUR delicate natural environment, and OUR health and that of the wildlife among us. The
Environmental Impact Statement draft is currently available on the MNDNR website. The public comment period is open and is
scheduled to be open until February 3rd. This is a time for anyone with concerns to voice them, when they must be used in the
environmental review process. Many people, including decision makers may not be aware of the effects of this type of mining and
the real risks and dangers must be brought to light. We have the power to voice concerns! Make phone calls, and send letters and
emails to your legislators. Also all the permitting for the mine is done through the MN Department of Natural Resources and they are
working on the Environmental Impact Statement. Contact Stuart Arkley at (651) 259-5089, or mail to Minnesota DNR, 500 Lafayette
Road, Saint Paul, MN 55155. Check back with us in the near future to learn other ways you can help. Check out the legislative district
finder to get info on where to send comments to your legislators, and submit comments here

Watch the Precious Waters short film here
DNR Polymet Environmental Review Information
Mining Economics in MN Report
News Article: Status of Environmental Review

Northern Preservation & Restoration Society. Copyright 2010.

More info on the mine and this type of mining:

Friends of the Boundary Waters Mine Info

Save Our Sky Blue Waters

Minnesota news on the mine

Isaac Walton League letter on sulfide mining

EPA: Clean Water and Economics

Acid Mine Drainage effect on wildlife

article on Wisconsin mine

Acid Mine Drainage explained well

study shows sulfide mines can't be stopped from polluting

Polymet's project overview

Economics

Trout Unlimited article

Mining controversy

EPA intent to prepare Environmental Impact Statement

Northmet info from Polymet