Coleman covers copper controversy

The writer Nick Coleman published a column in the Sunday, Jan. 10 Minneapolis Star Tribune about the “copper rush” in northeastern Minnesota, and about the choice it presents to the citizens of the state to decide between short-term jobs and long-term water pollution:

“Mining companies that quietly have been exploring northern Minnesota for copper, nickel and other precious minerals are moving toward active operations in and near the Superior National Forest that environmental groups fear may cause lasting damage to the lakes and rivers of the north country, possibly including the fragile ecosystem of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.”

Read Coleman’s column »

Friends executive director Paul Danicic is quoted in the article, outlining the industry’s track record, and the responsibility we are faced with to make a responsible decision about the future of our lakes, rivers and streams:

“This kind of mining has never been done without problems,” says Paul Danicic, executive director of the Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness… “Minnesotans are going to have to make a choice here: Are 20 years of mineral extraction worth risking generations of wilderness recreation and clean water?”

Speak up!

This is a great opportunity for people who care about the Boundary Waters, clean water and responsible use of our tax dollars to write a letter to the editor of the Star Tribune. Here’s how:

Online form

Editorial Department
Star Tribune
425 Portland Av.
Minneapolis, MN 55488

If you would like help writing a letter, feel free to contact greg@friends-bwca.org.