Large crowd turns out in Duluth to hear PolyMet, DNR talk mining

Trucks and a drill rig drill into the ground near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness Thursday morning near Ely, Minn. The trucks were doing exploratory drilling for Duluth Metals. (MPR Photo/Derek Montgomery)

The Duluth McCabe Chapter of the Izaak Walton League of America hosted a forum Wednesday about proposed copper mining in Northeastern Minnesota. A crowd of about 200 people attended the forum which included Brad Moore, a vice president for PolyMet Mining. Co.; and Larry Kramka, director of the Lands and Minerals Division of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

MPR News Primer: Copper-nickel mining

Mining runs deep in the culture and economy of northern Minnesota. So why are people drawing battle lines over plans to build copper-nickel mines in the Iron Range? It's a new kind of mining for Minnesota and there are plenty of potential rewards -- and risks. Can a middle ground be found between economic, environmental and quality of life concerns? More

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