GOOD NEWS FOR THE TWIN METALS EIS PROCESS

Better in Our Back Yard is pleased with the U.S. Bureau of Land Management’s decision to file a notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for Twin Metals’ proposed copper-nickel mine in northeast Minnesota. This is a significant step forward in the federal regulatory process.

The Better in Our Back Yard community of labor members and vendor partners looks forward to supporting Twin Metals through the EIS process. We know projects are done better, here in our own back yard.

Better In Our Back Yard is pleased with the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission’s decision to deny the request to reconsider the Certificate of Need and the route permit for the Enbridge #Line3 Project. We are grateful that the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission and its members are continuing to focus their efforts on advancing the progress of the most studied and reviewed oil pipeline in the state’s history.

Line 3 is an essential project that will secure Minnesota’s economic future bringing essential jobs back to our state when we need it most, especially when the majority of counties along Line 3’s route are facing unemployment rates in excess of 20 percent. Thank you again to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission, it’s members and supporters of this much needed investment.

Better in Our Back Yard is pleased to learn the Minnesota Supreme Court granted a review of a Minnesota Court of Appeals’ ruling regarding Polymet’s NorthMet Project air permit. It’s the second case the Supreme Court has granted review of the lower court’s ruling on PolyMet permits.

Better in Our Back Yard remains steadfast in our support of the NorthMet Project and the State agencies who conducted the comprehensive environmental and regulatory review. Support of responsible development – especially these types of large-scale projects – will be essential to the economic recovery of our region. We know we can do better, for our communities, region and economy, here – in our own back yard.

The Better in Our Back Yard community is devastated with the news Verso will indefinitely idle the Duluth paper mill this month. Employing over 200 professionals, the mill has been a cornerstone of our regional economy since 1987, providing a market for our naturally renewable resources in the logging industry.

This news comes on the heels of additional idles and closures due to the pandemic. Now more than ever our region could use the economic boost of large-scale projects like PolyMet’s NorthMet project, and Enbridge’s Line 3 Replacement project. Managing our natural resources economy responsibly must be part of a solution to mitigate and move through these difficult times.

The Better In Our Back Yard Board of Directors is extremely disappointed to learn about the MPCA’s decision to move to a contested case process for the Enbridge Line 3 Replacement Project.

This is another example of a delay that could have been avoided. The Line 3 Replacement project included one of the most comprehensive stakeholder engagement processes the State of Minnesota has witnessed.

Having safe, reliable and efficient access to resources is a foundational element of a healthy economy. This decision delays the replacement of aged infrastructure and comes at a time when Minnesota communities and business owners could benefit from the $2.6 billion private investment.

Our economy will require investments in large-scale industrial projects like Line 3 to help recover from the current recession. There is no region or state that is better suited to hold up the environmental standards important to bringing jobs and investment to our communities. We must do better, Minnesota. We need these projects, and believe they are done better – here in our back yard.