This week marks the launch of an initiative urging Minnesotans to study about sulfide mining known as Mining Truth.
Metals such as gold, nickel and copper are obtained from sulfide mining; however it also produces byproducts like sulfuric acid and toxic elements. Polymet and Twin Metals, which are conducting active drilling programs have proposed two sulfide mines, one near the Boundary Waters canoe area and one near Lake Superior.
Mining Truth includes Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness, Conservation Minnesota and Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy (MCEA). Their objective is to include all Minnesotans such as businesses, non-profit organizations, mining companies, policy makers and private citizens in a fact-based, open dialogue about the controversial issue of sulfide mining.
Mining Truth is requesting 1000 elected officials, businesses, non-profit organizations and individuals to take the "Take Two, Ask Two" pledge by Memorial Day. Taking the pledge implies promising to take two minutes to study about sulfide mining and then requesting two friends to also do the same.
The executive director of Conservation Minnesota and Mining truth founding member, Paul Austin states that it is essential to take caution regarding the impact of sulfide on lakes, rivers and groundwater but it is also needed to recognize the need for jobs in Northern Minnesota. Mining Truth strives to provide Minnesotans multifaceted information on the issue, which include environmental, economical and policy views.
Source: http://www.MiningTruth.org