by Colin Yahnke
I love the BWCA. I empathize for those who had to suffer eminent domain for it to be created. I empathize with the disabled people who are not permitted the same access as an able-bodied person. It is a struggle that the PILT taxes generated by public lands in St. Louis County (the largest county east of the Mississippi River and 30th in the lower 48) are almost all spent in the Duluth area and only a small fraction gets to the rural communities like Ely.
No rational human wants anything to negatively impact the BWCA. I don’t know one on either side of the mining argument.
The facts: communities like Ely are dying. We put on a smile and are Minnesota nice when you visit, but we are dying. Our schools are being forced to make drastic cuts. (Not a good sign of sustainability). Our nursing homes are asking for more funding to keep the lights on. EMS is struggling to meet the needs of their communities. Healthcare in general is feeling the pinch from federal and state funding restrictions.
We love the tourists up here. We appreciate your excitement and passion for our backyard. Local businesses owners appreciate and profit from you.
The problem is the seasonal jobs are just that, seasonal. They almost all come with no benefits and the employees for those business owners make less than $20 an hour.
Families are struggling and most of the resources the county has are 100+ miles away in Duluth.
In summary: tourism dollars are so appreciated but they do not fund the Hospitals, nursing homes, schools, or city infrastructure.
Some see a 25-year economic boost by a copper-nickel mine worth the risk. I recently heard a community member say this, “I’m not asking if the region is marginally richer in 2050. I’m asking if Ely still has a hospital, a school, and EMS in 2035. If a 25-year mine gives us a fighting chance at that, it’s better than a dignified collapse.”
When you bring up “no mining” but don’t acknowledge the economic crisis of the area, you might get an ignorant and emotional response.
I read the comments and listen to the conversations at our coffee shops. They are well intended but quite insulting to those who are struggling to find full-time work with benefits. They want to live and raise a family here, but seasonal work is not “working.” What would it take for a compromise? Copper and nickel are fundamental “critical” minerals for both the United States and the global economy. They are not only essential for modern infrastructure, but are literally the building blocks for the Clean Energy Transition.
I think the future is mining and a protected BWCA.
Why not focus some of the passion for preservation of the BWCA on finding the technology to mine the minerals “proven” safely?
When passion meets necessity, innovation stops being optional and becomes inevitable.
If someone opposes your view on these topics, know that there is possibly some hardships that are triggering some survival instincts that will most likely create an emotional response.
For those that are not vulgar in a response, please have empathy and possibly help work towards an ultimate and collaborative solution.
