Share your ideas for mining discussion with Lake Superior Binational Forum

The Lake Superior Binational Forum offers its third and final public meeting called “The Impacts of Nonferrous Mining in the Lake Superior Basin” 12:30-5 p.m. March 15, in the Auditorium of the Mesabi Range Community and Technical College in Virginia, Minn.

The focus is on how nonferrous mining operations may impact the economies and environment of the Lake Superior basin, especially on the Minnesota Iron Range. Speakers representing different aspects of mining are currently being considered; however, the Forum welcomes public input about preferred topics and speakers. Email the Forum at binationalforum@northland.edu to suggest issues or speakers for consideration. A final agenda will be posted on the Forum’s website by the end of the year.

All Forum meetings are free with no need to register in advance. Members of the public are invited to an open public comment period starting at 4 p.m. during the meeting when anyone is welcome to express their comments about mining and other issues related to Lake Superior.

The first public meeting — held in March 2012 in Ashland, Wis. —focused on the historical, environmental and economic impacts from ferrous mining in the basin. All audio and video recordings of that meeting are available on the Lake Superior Binational Forum’s web site at www.superiorforum.org.

The second public meeting, held in September, in Marquette, Mich., focused on various impacts from nonferrous mining operations, including how mercury affects water quality. Visitors to the web site can listen to and watch recordings of speakers’ presentations from that meeting.

The Binational Forum has developed an extensive section about mining throughout the basin on our web site. Click here to access information about all aspects of mining in Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Ontario. Included on the web site are resources and links to information about active and proposed mining operations in the basin — socio-economic, environmental, citizen responses, Native American perspectives, historical importance news, presentations by speakers of different perspectives and other resources.

These meetings are funded through a Great Lakes Restoration Initiative grant administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Tags: news, business, environment