Mining

I grew up on the Iron Range (Cuyuna, specifically), in the heart of Minnesota mining country, where most of my friends and neighbors worked in the mines. I support our mine workers, their good-paying jobs, their unions, and local business suppliers. I support our mining families, our mining industry and all the economic, social, and cultural benefits mining has brought to northern Minnesota over decades of growth and development.

Thanks to advances in mining technology, the time has long past when we had to choose between mining and the environment.

I believe we can do mining the right way, creating good-paying jobs while adhering to the strictest environmental and safety standards to ensure safe working conditions, and that clean air, clear water, and healthy soil continue to support our tourism industry and Minnesota quality of life.

The fact is, the precious metals and minerals mined by Iron Rangers touch every part of our daily lives, while reducing our carbon footprint and making us more energy-efficient:

• New cars contain more than 1 ton of iron, steel, copper, nickel, and nickel-based aluminum – hybrid vehicles are even more energy efficient.
   
• Wind turbines contain hundreds of tons of steel and copper – and reduce our air pollution.
   
• Cellphones contain copper and palladium – conserving resources and advancing communication technology.
   
• Lithium-ion batteries contain nickel, cobalt, manganese, and more – and help us save energy.
   
• Modern catalytic convertors contain platinum and palladium – reducing our carbon emissions that contribute to climate change.
   
• Every computer – television – light bulb – printer – iPad – and on and on – contains iron ore and precious metals that we mine in Minnesota, and helps reduce our dependency on fossil fuels.

I believe mining and environmental protection should work hand-in-hand as we tap the materials necessary to produce next-generation products and technology, as well as the iron ore and steel that goes into our automobiles, buildings, machinery, appliances, roads, bridges, highways, and ports – every aspect of our nation’s infrastructure and industrial economy.

We serve the planet and our future by mining these minerals here in America, where the industry is closely regulated, where workers are protected, and where air, water, and land is respected, protected, and restored.

Below are two opinion pieces on mining I have written for local papers, as well as my complete statement to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on the Polymet project. 

Mesabi Daily News: Rick Nolan "The Range is our home and mining is what we do!"

"Mining Our Way to a Healthy Environment, Jobs, and Energy Independence"

Statement_on_NorthMet_SDEIS.pdf