Report | Environment Minnesota Research & Policy Center

Wasting our Waterways 2012

Industrial facilities continue to dump millions of pounds of toxic chemicals into America’s rivers, streams, lakes and ocean waters each year—threatening both the environment and human health.

News Release | Environment Minnesota

Over 1.4 Million Pounds of Toxic Chemicals Dumped into Minnesota Waterways

Industrial facilities dumped 1,455,361 pounds of toxic chemicals into Minnesota waterways, according to a new report released today by Environment Minnesota and co-authored by the Frontier Group.

Headline

Exchanging school trust lands isn't 'for the sake of our children'

Whenever an issue becomes center stage at the Minnesota Legislature, citizens should be alert to a hidden political agenda.

Headline

By dog team, ex-lawmaker delivers sulfide mining petitions

A group of several hundred people asked Gov. Mark Dayton and state lawmakers on Thursday to oppose copper and nickel mining permits in northeastern Minnesota.

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Quest for data slows copper-nickel mine near Hoyt Lakes

Environmentalists say that northeastern Minnesota, with forests, lakes and wetlands that make it one of the most beautiful and popular areas in the state, is the wrong place for such a mine. The risk of acid runoff and the leaching of heavy metals, they argue, are too great a risk. They also say it could threaten some of the declining number of Minnesota's naturally occurring stands of wild rice, a major concern for Indian tribes, because the plant does not grow well in water high in sulfates, another potential byproduct of the mine and ore processing.

News Release | Environment Minnesota

Time to Protect the Grand Canyon from Toxic Mining

On June 20, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar is expected to make a major announcement at the Grand Canyon.

Headline

Runoff from old mines raises fears

Pollution problems near the Boundary Waters are raising concerns about future Minnesota mining projects. Environmental groups have found high concentrations of metals leaching into streams and wetlands from two long-closed sources: one old test mine and one abandoned mine. The pollution runs off waste rock excavated decades ago and piled at the sites.

Result

Thousands of Minnesotans educated

We’ve talked to tens of thousands of Minnesotans about the threat of toxic sulfide mining, and helped strengthen the voice of the coalition working to prevent sulfide mining in Minnesota. This fall, governor Dayton decided to delay selling new mineral leases up north because of public outcry. With more outreach and education, we’ll build the strength needed to protect our best forest and lake region for future generations.