STOP Sulfide mining in MN from destroying the Lake Superior watershed and the BWCA

What is Metallic Sulfide Mining?

Metallic sulfide mining is a Midwest US term for hardrock mining for metals in sulfur-bearing rock, as differentiated from coal, iron ore, or gravel extraction. Metallic sulfide mining is the practice of extracting metals from a sulfide ore body. In Minnesota, these metals include copper and nickel with trace amounts of cobalt, platinum, palladium, and gold.

Why is Metallic Sulfide Mining a Concern?

When sulfide ore, waste rock, pit walls or the tailings are exposed to air and moisture, a chemical reaction can create sulfuric acid. (Iron ores are in oxide, not sulfide, formations.)
Precipitation water can cause sulfuric acid compounds to drain from the mine site -- called acid mine drainage (AMD, sometimes called acid rock drainage or ARD).
AMD can enter nearby surface water and groundwater resources and thereby harm people, plants, animals, metal and concrete structures.
****There has never been a metallic sulfide mine that has not polluted water resources where water was present.
AMD also dissolves toxic heavy metals (e.g. lead, zinc, copper, and mercury), allowing them to enter surface water and groundwater.
AMD discharge and disruption of wetlands caused by metallic sulfide mining can also significantly increase the levels of toxic mercury in fish.
AMD can form red, orange or yellow sediments in the bottom of streams, which can disrupt the growth and reproduction of fish or kill aquatic plants and animals on which they feed.
AMD is very difficult to confine and treat (clean up) properly. It can be very expensive to clean up and has costly impacts on local communities.
It may take several years before AMD reaches toxic levels, and water contamination can then last for centuries, or even millennia.

Facts About Metallic Sulfide Mining in Minnesota

Minnesota’s water and sulfide mining are not a healthful mix.

The valuable water resource:

There are thousands of lakes, thousands of miles of rivers and streams in the state, most numerous in the northeastern "Arrowhead" region.
It takes approximately 190 years for contaminants to cycle through the great lakes, even at current water levels, which would receive pollution from the PolyMet mine near Hoyt Lakes.
*****The Great Lakes contain 18% of the world's freshwater.
Nationally, AMD accounts for some of the largest and most expensive Superfund sites. Minnesota can lead with legislation to prevent this pollution. Other states have passed protective legislation AFTER experiencing damage.

Details: The mine would be located near Babbitt and Hoyt Lakes, Minnesota The mine site would be on land that is now part of the Superior National Forest that is comprised of high quality peatlands The company proposes to excavate three enormous pits up to 696 feet deep and transport the ore by railcar to an old, dormant taconite processing plant 8 miles away that would be refurbished The mineral rights are private and have been leased by PolyMet The company must acquire the surface lands in a land swap with the Forest Service. This has not yet happened, but its potential environmental impacts are analyzed in the PolyMet draft mine plan Excavated material not desired (waste rock) would be stored next to the pits in large, 20-story high piles Processing waste from the plant (tailings) would be added to an existing tailings basin that is currently leaking polluted water The plant site would produce copper and nickel “concentrates” and “precipitates” which would be transported out of state for further processing into useable metals The mine and plant sites have a projected lifespan of 20 years Two wastewater treatment plants to treat polluted water from the mine site and the tailings basin would operate when the mine is running and would continue operating after the mine closes. Treatment will be needed at the mine site for a minimum of 200 years and at the plant site for a minimum of 500 years. The Partridge River curls around the mine site, and flows into the St. Louis River and then into Lake Superior The Embarrass River runs adjacent to the plant site and flows into the St. Louis River and then into Lake Superior The environmental impact statement is being analyzed by three “co-lead” government agencies: the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the U.S. Forest Service. In addition, there are “cooperating” agencies that are also providing feedback on the mine plan: the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and several tribal governments

information found at http://waterlegacy.org/sulfide_mining and http://www.miningtruth.org/sulfide-mining-minnesota/polymet-mine-proposal/#.VU3y0lI8LCQ