Land Withdrawals Threaten Minnesota Community’s Future

Residents of Minnesota are fighting to save jobs after the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced a proposal to withdraw 235,000 acres of federal land from minerals exploration and development. This proposal will jeopardize thousands of jobs as well as billions of dollars in wages, economic investment and funds to supports schools.

In a recent video developed by the Jobs for Minnesotans Coalition, residents of northern Minnesota describe how gradual restrictions on minerals exploration have caused their communities to decline. They explain that if these proposed federal land withdrawals are enacted, it would be “death sentence” for the future of their communities. That is why they are galvanizing to take a stand for all mining.

Watch the full video here.

“You’re not only starving us figuratively speaking—you’re starving the people of the Iron Range literally speaking,” warns St. Louis County Commissioner Tommy Rukavina. Northeastern Minnesota is one of the most mineral-rich regions in the world and mining serves as its primary industry. While the area is home to other industries like tourism, northeastern Minnesota cannot support its families and local economies without mining.

It’s time we all take a stand for Minnesota mining. The proposal to withdraw federal lands in northeastern Minnesota will hinder access to one of our nation’s primary copper and nickel resource supplies—hurting hard working families in Minnesota and throughout the nation who work in downstream industries that rely on these resources, like manufacturing and infrastructure development.

Take action for Minnesota’s—and America’s—future today!