The head of an environmental group says he appreciates that Governor Mark Dayton remains leery of the proposed Twin Metals project near the B-W-C-A, but is concerned Dayton is showing support for the planned PolyMet copper-nickel mine in Hoyt Lakes. Chris Knopf with Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness says they’re “concerned about contaminating the watershed, based on the track record of other facilities.” Backers say new high-tech systems will prevent contamination, but Knopf warns, “The question is whether the technology is really that different than what’s been used in the past.”
Nancy Norr with the group Jobs for Minnesotans says there’s been rigorous debate on environmental issues. “We have to learn to balance these risks because we need these metals to function in our society and as we go forward,” she says. Norr adds, “Kudos for the Twin Cities for being able to host the Super Bowl next year, but for 500-million-dollar economic impact annually, this is northern Minnesota’s Super Bowl.”
Here’s the full interview with Norr:
And with Knopf: