DEBATE: Sen. Franken Supports Mining

Investment banker Mike McFadden’s claim that Sen. Franken does not support mining is false. Senator Franken supports mining. He’s fought to protect mining jobs by fighting illegal dumping and ensuring that we use more American made steel.

Sen. Franken believes the Polymet project will create jobs and that it will be done in an environmentally responsible way. Even PolyMet officials confirmed that Sen. Franken and other officials “have been supportive” of the project.

PolyMet Officials Confirmed That Franken And Other Officials “Have Been Supportive” Of The Project. According to MPR, “Brad Moore, the company’s executive vice president for environmental and government relations, said PolyMet will not get involved in political battles such as Minnesota’s Senate race. But he said since the mine project was first proposed, Republican and Democratic elected officials on the state and federal levels have been supportive.” [Minnesota Public Radio, 8/22/14]

PolyMet Officials Confirmed That The Approval Process Has Made The Project Safer And Better, Said Regulators Have Been Tough, But Fair. According to MPR, “’It is been a very long process. It typically is in America,’ Moore said. ‘But in going through that process, the project has improved. The environmental compliance or environmental impacts are lessened and, as a result, we’re going to be sure to meet all state and federal requirements in order to actually operate the mine’ … ‘We have been pleased with the level of coordination between the agencies,’ Moore said. ‘They’re appropriately tough on us, but they’ve also been fair.’” [Minnesota Public Radio, 8/22/14]

October 2013: Franken Said He Was Happy PolyMet Was Working With Stakeholders To Overcome Environmental Objections To Its Proposed Cooper-Nickel Mining Project. “I’ve met with PolyMet officials on several occasions. And as they work toward a new plan to mitigate the environmental impact of the proposed mine, I am optimistic that the company will be able to allay these concerns, allowing the project to move forward – and delivering on the promise of new jobs and a stronger Iron Range economy. To that end, it’s encouraging to see PolyMet working closely with stakeholders like the Environmental Protection Agency, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, the U.S. Forest Service, the Army Corps of Engineers, and area tribal communities as they prepare their revised plan.” [Mesabi Daily News, MINE II, Franken Op/Ed, 10/30/13]

March 2014: Franken “Expressed Confidence In The State’s Ability To Allow The [PolyMet] Project To Go Forward While Also Ensuring All State And Federal Environmental Laws Are Followed.” According to MPR, “At least three DFL members of Congress from Minnesota have weighed in on the environmental study for the proposed PolyMet copper-nickel mine in northern Minnesota … ‘In the same way that we have enabled the economy to grow while protecting the environment in the past, I believe we can and will continue to strike this balance for future mining projects,’ wrote Franken, who is seeking re-election this year. ‘As the Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement is finalized, I therefore urge you to ensure it is done in a way that is consistent with state and federal environmental laws, and in a manner where taxpayers are protected from future environmental remediation costs.’” [Minnesota Public Radio, 3/18/14]

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