League of Women Voters of Duluth Environmental Action Committee
Formerly Natural Resources Committee
Formerly Natural Resources Committee
Upcoming Committee Meeting
October 17, 2022
5:30 pm via Zoom
October 17, 2022
5:30 pm via Zoom
The Status of Copper Nickel Sulfide Mining in Minnesota
Join Us-
Who: JT Haines,
What: Update on the status of Copper
Nickel Sulfide Mining in Minnesota
When: Thursday, December 2, 7- 8 p.m.
Zoom link will be sent by E-News shortly before the event.
The LWVMN recently signed on to the Move Away from Polymet campaign. Copper/Sulfide /nickel mining risks and transparency in government agencies has been an ongoing issue for the Duluth LWV’s Natural Resources committee
for many years. So that everyone understands why the State League which incorporates Duluth has taken that step, the Natural Resources Committee decided to invite JT Haines, League member and Northeastern Minnesota Director
for the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy, a lead litigant in the ongoing Polymet court cases, to provide
an update on the Polymet cases and discuss Twin Metals and other potential mining sites in Minnesota.
Join Us-
Who: JT Haines,
What: Update on the status of Copper
Nickel Sulfide Mining in Minnesota
When: Thursday, December 2, 7- 8 p.m.
Zoom link will be sent by E-News shortly before the event.
The LWVMN recently signed on to the Move Away from Polymet campaign. Copper/Sulfide /nickel mining risks and transparency in government agencies has been an ongoing issue for the Duluth LWV’s Natural Resources committee
for many years. So that everyone understands why the State League which incorporates Duluth has taken that step, the Natural Resources Committee decided to invite JT Haines, League member and Northeastern Minnesota Director
for the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy, a lead litigant in the ongoing Polymet court cases, to provide
an update on the Polymet cases and discuss Twin Metals and other potential mining sites in Minnesota.
So What has the Natural Resources Committee Been Up To?
February 2020
Here are some of the things that the Natural Resources Committee has been involved with over the last few months.
· Helped pass the Bag It Ordinance putting a 5 cent fee on single use plastic bags.
· Heard a Climate Reality presentation by League member Rachel Wagner.
· Worked to get the LWV Duluth Board to sign on to a petition created by the Climate Mobilization group chaired by LWV Duluth member Lisa Fitzpatrick declaring that there is a climate crisis.
· Discussed a “Rights of Nature” proposal brought
forward by member Barb Akre.
· Decided to send LWV Observers to the City of Duluth Natural Resources Commission meetings. League members Barb Akre
and Myrna Matheson have agreed to attend, with Julie O’Leary also indicating an interest.
· Sent comments to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) based on a League position, regarding our opposition to a
possible change in water quality standards for trout streams.
· Supplied updates and opportunities for action on PolyMet and Twin Metals through Gay Trachsel’s involvement with the
Minnesota Environmental Partnership (MEP).
· Began planning for a Wednesday, March 18 event co-sponsored with the local Izaak Walton chapter focusing on plastics, with
a possible title of “Everything you have always wanted to know about Plastics and didn’t know who to Ask”.
February 2020
Here are some of the things that the Natural Resources Committee has been involved with over the last few months.
· Helped pass the Bag It Ordinance putting a 5 cent fee on single use plastic bags.
· Heard a Climate Reality presentation by League member Rachel Wagner.
· Worked to get the LWV Duluth Board to sign on to a petition created by the Climate Mobilization group chaired by LWV Duluth member Lisa Fitzpatrick declaring that there is a climate crisis.
· Discussed a “Rights of Nature” proposal brought
forward by member Barb Akre.
· Decided to send LWV Observers to the City of Duluth Natural Resources Commission meetings. League members Barb Akre
and Myrna Matheson have agreed to attend, with Julie O’Leary also indicating an interest.
· Sent comments to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) based on a League position, regarding our opposition to a
possible change in water quality standards for trout streams.
· Supplied updates and opportunities for action on PolyMet and Twin Metals through Gay Trachsel’s involvement with the
Minnesota Environmental Partnership (MEP).
· Began planning for a Wednesday, March 18 event co-sponsored with the local Izaak Walton chapter focusing on plastics, with
a possible title of “Everything you have always wanted to know about Plastics and didn’t know who to Ask”.
Over the past few years LWV Duluth Natural Resources Committee has worked on, among other things, educating our members and the general public about plastics through our connection with the "Bag It" campaign, educated members and the general public about Duluth area trees through an Urban Forest Panel bringing together several local experts and having LWV observers on the Urban Forest Commission and educated and updated members on copper/nickel mining issues through our connection with the Minnesota Environmental Partnership..
Natural Resources Committee: This committee advocates for protection and preservation of natural resources including land, water, and air based on LWV local, state, and national positions.