Sportsmen for the Boundary Waters

This is a relatively new organization that is essentially dedicated to fighting mining in the BWCA watershed. Their mission is: “To protect the integrity of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and its watersheds for huntable and fishable populations of fish and wildlife, now and forever through advocacy and education.” If this is a cause that’s meaningful to you I encourage you to check them out.

They have created an online form with a customizable message that you can send directly to your reps in Congress to voice your opposition to Twin Metals and other mining operations near the watershed.

If you disagree with the message, I understand and acknowledge your right to do so and you should simply ignore this and have a wonderful day (in other words, I’m not looking for an argument about mining.)

If you agree with the group’s message, this is a quick and free way to use your voice and I encourage you to do so. Thanks!

There’s a 3 or 4 part series podcast, river’s of oil, from mpr on the occurrence of these protests in relation to pipelines, and think it has good parallels to mining as well. Pretty good listen if nothing else to do.

Deuces wrote:

There’s a 3 or 4 part series podcast, river’s of oil, from mpr on the occurrence of these protests in relation to pipelines, and think it has good parallels to mining as well. Pretty good listen if nothing else to do.

Thanks will check that out.

Backcountry Hunters & Anglers is a similar (much larger) organization that has a ton of info available. They have chapters in most states and plenty of opportunities to get involved beyond just hitting the “donate” button, which I like. Some of the BHA folks seem to be involved with Sportsmen for the Boundary Waters as well.

OK so since I work for a union that is hugely involved in mining that procured the metals for all your toys and gadgets I’ll ignore things.

glenn57 wrote:

OK so since I work for a union that is hugely involved in mining that procured the metals for all your toys and gadgets I’ll ignore things.

Like I said sir, have a wonderful day!

glenn57 wrote:

OK so since I work for a union that is hugely involved in mining that procured the metals for all your toys and gadgets I’ll ignore things.

I’m a union guy myself but I’m a huge sportsman. Metals can literally come from thousands of places besides the boundary waters.

Bearcat89 wrote:

I’m a union guy myself but I’m a huge sportsman. Metals can literally come from thousands of places besides the boundary waters.

+1

IMO, with the track record for these types of mines, it is very short sited to place a mine within the watershed of the BWCA. I visit the BWCA several times a year and there are so few places in the world like it, I feel it is very under appreciated. Adding to that, the profits for this mine aren’t even staying within the borders of this country, that should raise some red flags.

Some of the dry tailings re-incorporation being talked about sounds interesting. I’m all for the environment yet I still keep an open mind towards the proposed mining. There are a lot of un-employed miners in that region that I’m sure would appreciate the work. This whole mining in the BWCA thing is a double edged sword and both factions have merit.

Bearcat89 wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>glenn57 wrote:</div>
OK so since I work for a union that is hugely involved in mining that procured the metals for all your toys and gadgets I’ll ignore things.

I’m a union guy myself but I’m a huge sportsman. Metals can literally come from thousands of places besides the boundary waters.

so am i!!!!!!!! i have no intentions of causing a rukus so carry on. it’ll be an interesting read.

tangler wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>glenn57 wrote:</div>
OK so since I work for a union that is hugely involved in mining that procured the metals for all your toys and gadgets I’ll ignore things.

Like I said sir, have a wonderful day!

you to sir!!!!!!!!!!

Tom Sawvell wrote:

There are a lot of un-employed miners in that region that I’m sure would appreciate the work. This whole mining in the BWCA thing is a double edged sword and both factions have merit.

The study I saw said the Polymet mine would create about 360 jobs. Yes, that would provide some relief to the area and add money to the local economy but there is an end date to those jobs. Is ~300 jobs really worth it given the known risks? The BWCA will provide (different) jobs (i.e. outfitters, lodges, shops/restaurants in bordering towns like Ely) in perpetuity if we take care of it.

Another study I saw… Just with Ely alone; canoe outfitters, resorts, and tourism related businesses employ 400 people year round and another 600 during the summer months. And that is just Ely. The BWCA has over 250,000 visitors every year.

Amy Klobuchar has been playing games here,” Painter said. “She’s showing for the mining companies to keep the votes up there, but trying to avoid getting too much flak from the environmentalists. And I just don’t think that’s a very honest approach. Just take a stance.”

This is where I am trusting in Amy to do the right thing. I’m sure she knows far more than we do. She did a good job years ago when they overseas was screwing the metal markets up.

360 to 400 job openings which many would be filled by out of state guys.
I’d love to live up north myself but the economy sucks and work force is a joke. So I live a hour north of the metro and then shoot north every weekend I get. The trades is hurting for people and if those so called miners really wanted to work they would have employment down here in a heart beat

Bearcat89 wrote:

360 to 400 job openings which many would be filled by out of state guys.
I’d love to live up north myself but the economy sucks and work force is a joke. So I live a hour north of the metro and then shoot north every weekend I get. The trades is hurting for people and if those so called miners really wanted to work they would have employment down here in a heart beat

I’ve often wondered how bad the miners on the bench want to work given all the laborer opportunities in the Cities…..and union to boot.

I don’t have a dog in the fight and see both sides of the issue but will stay out of the fray.

Gitchi Gummi wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Tom Sawvell wrote:</div>
There are a lot of un-employed miners in that region that I’m sure would appreciate the work. This whole mining in the BWCA thing is a double edged sword and both factions have merit.

The study I saw said the Polymet mine would create about 360 jobs. Yes, that would provide some relief to the area and add money to the local economy but there is an end date to those jobs. Is ~300 jobs really worth it given the known risks? The BWCA will provide (different) jobs (i.e. outfitters, lodges, shops/restaurants in bordering towns like Ely) in perpetuity if we take care of it.

Another study I saw… Just with Ely alone; canoe outfitters, resorts, and tourism related businesses employ 400 people year round and another 600 during the summer months. And that is just Ely. The BWCA has over 250,000 visitors every year.

A couple of clarifications.
1. Nobody is proposing mining in the BWCA. It is the watershed of the BWCA that is specifically being proposed by Twin Metals which will be an underground mine.
2. The Polymet mine isn’t in the BWCA watershed.

Jobs is not a viable argument. Nowhere In the bill of rights or constitution is a good job where you live guaranteed. I’ve lived near the range my whole life. I have many family and friends who are miners. I’m am 100% anti-Twin Metals and anti-PolyMet project.

Ya’ll can be as anti-mining as you like. It’s going to happen.

Dutchboy wrote:

Ya’ll can be as anti-mining as you like. It’s going to happen.

I don’t know. Get a Dem back in the whitehouse and that’ll shut this nightmare back down. Plus some pressure from the environmentalists to gum up the works.

Dutchboy wrote:

Ya’ll can be as anti-mining as you like. It’s going to happen.

I mean it needs to be shut down. What does a CEO in Chilli and a CEO in Switzerland care about water/land/environment in Northen MN.

Some of you may or may not know this, but the house that Ivanka Trump and her husband stay at in D.C. is owned by the Chillean businessman that owns Twin Metals…that right there folks stinks of corruption.

walleyevision wrote:

Some of you may or may not know this, but the house that Ivanka Trump and her husband stay at in D.C. is owned by the Chillean businessman that owns Twin Metals…that right there folks stinks of corruption.

Yep. How convenient Trump renewed the leases for Twin Metals and canceled the US Forest Service environmental review for his buddy who owns Twin Metals.

I was wondering when this thread would go south…..

Wade Boardman wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Dutchboy wrote:</div>
Ya’ll can be as anti-mining as you like. It’s going to happen.

I don’t know. Get a Dem back in the whitehouse and that’ll shut this nightmare back down. Plus some pressure from the environmentalists to gum up the works.

24 candidates announce by the Dems for President. Not a one of them could beat Mickey Mouse let alone Trump. So thats that.

You can have imported Chinese steel or US steel. But you aren’t building skyscrapers and factories out of straw. So you can decide what you want.

http://www.timberjay.com/stories/leaked-2016-email-rips-twin-metals-lease-decision,15151

Good article. As I said, I hope Amy is going to bat just for what’s right. Mine if it’s safe, if not don’t. But don’t let corrupt politics on either side for their own agendas muddy the waters.

I don’t have a major horse in the race other than being a moderately conservative outdoorsman.

With that being said, this project has some glaring risks. I have a close college friend from Ely who has a family built on mining. It is interesting to note that none of them are “for” this proposed mining operation. They support locally controlled mines where there are local stakeholders who care about the environment as much as the business. He also stated that the job market is so hot for skilled laborers that anyone willing to work the mining job could find stable lucrative employment if they truly wanted within a couple hours of the area. These jobs will not be permanent…rather they will be transplants from other areas working many of them without truly setting down roots in the region.

When the person/corporation pushing the operation has never spent significant time in the region, that sets off substantial red flags in my book.

Dutchboy wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Wade Boardman wrote:</div>

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Dutchboy wrote:</div>
Ya’ll can be as anti-mining as you like. It’s going to happen.

I don’t know. Get a Dem back in the whitehouse and that’ll shut this nightmare back down. Plus some pressure from the environmentalists to gum up the works.

24 candidates announce by the Dems for President. Not a one of them could beat Mickey Mouse let alone Trump. So thats that.

No question. We have a betting board pit together with the 24. Highly amusing.

Bump. The Hudson Brewfest is coming up on Saturday and proceeds support this group. Food trucks, music, outdoor gear, prize package drawings, and UNLIMITED BEER.

Event Details

Like the OP said, I don’t wish to start any debates here. Just letting you all know about the event if interested

EDIT: Link didn’t work

There’s tons of other places to get iron from. Mining is great just not in places like the BWCA!

Ahren Wagner wrote:

There’s tons of other places to get iron from. Mining is great just not in places like the BWCA!

Ahren, fyi iron ore mining is really not a problem we are concerned with. Copper sulfide mining is the concern.