Down with the Proposed Twin Metals Copper Mine!

As if the Flint Water Crisis wasn’t enough to warn us of the catastrophic impacts of unsustainable industries on the environment, possibly the proposal of Twin Metals copper mine will solidify the true dangers to both the land and those who rely off of its resources. If the proposal is passed, approximately 1.1 million acres of the pristine Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness could meet its end. Would you happily go for a swim or let your kids play in brown water, covered in a film of chemicals, scattered with dead life? What about drinking that very water? If you answered yes to either of those questions, first off I'm very concerned for your well-being. Second, It is crucial to recognize that not only will the copper mine uproot the Boundary Waters’ natural cycle,  it will impact the human communities in surrounding areas along with those hundreds of miles away.  It is our duty to protect what little natural beauty this country has left from such an environmental injustice.

Light, water, noise, and air pollution are all guaranteed with the arrival of a sulfide-ore mine; the type proposed by the Twin Metals Mine Plan. This type of mining has never been allowed in Minnesota, for good reason,  until recently when mining companies have greedily filed suit to demand mineral leases.  Not only will the waterways be damaged for over 500 years, aquatic ecosystems will be destroyed.  The acid mine drainage, heavy metals, and pollutants damage the microorganisms that plants feed on, which then is consumed by the fish that call the Boundary Waters home.  I personally am not interested in consuming Bass with increased levels of mercury from these nasty processes, as I doubt anyone else is in the local communities and cities.  Similarly, 10% of newborn fish in Minnesota’s Lake Superior Basis already have blood mercury levels above average due to a local mine’s lack of environmental responsibility.  The impact that the Twin Metals Copper mines will have simply is not worth paying the price for the next five centuries.

For those that aren’t too concerned about the environmental consequences of the proposed Twin Metals Copper Mine, I’m here to break the news that economic consequences too are a part of the deal. Minnesota has become the second-fastest warming state in the country. This is due to the rise of in-state industries’ carbon output and chemical run-off, which is exactly what the Twin Metals Copper mine will contribute.  The exponential warming of Minnesota leads to the migration of biomes, thus feral pigs and invasive beetles will be the new norm, and moose will start to shift their stomping grounds to Canada.  What does that mean for humans? The famous landscapes of Tamaracks, a staple tree harvested for its numerous uses such as telephone poles, will be eaten alive by the Eastern larch beetle: an invasive species that thrives as the temperature of Minnesota rises.  With the loss of Tamaracks, the 9.1 million dollar industry with over 30,000 employees will be shaken to its core.  Possibly one of the most obvious affected resources by copper mining, water, could be the most expensive loss.  In 2018, Minnesota reached a historic settlement of $850 million with 3M for polluting groundwater with ‘forever chemicals’. However, the cost to fix their nearly irreversible damage could be as high as 1.2 billion dollars.  The local residents pay for this environmental injustice in more ways than imaginable: their health, access to clean water, and let’s not forget the increased taxes to pay for the mess. 

From a social standpoint, I can only see the proposal of the Twin Metals Copper mine as an injustice to the already compromised communities.  As established before, the mine’s pollutants will run into the Boundary Waters which serves as drinking water for surrounding communities. Lead is certainly one of the possible pollutants that could make its way into locals’ drinking water, triggering a rise of lead poisoning. But more importantly, there is evidence to show strong racial disparities in the prevalence of lead poisoning.  This means that people of any race other than white are more likely to suffer these impacts to a higher degree.  The Brookings Institute estimates that by the year 2045, White Americans will comprise less than 50% of the overall population. Might I add that white people are responsible for a disproportionate amount of pollution that occurs globally, as a result of their political and economic power. Yet, it is everyone but white people that are suffering the most from these irresponsible decisions.  The shift to equality for all  is at the forefront of our nation, and the Twin Metals Copper mine would be a step backwards for this movement.

Let’s theoretically give the Twin Metals Copper mine proposal a chance. Twin Metals promises to take the’ most sustainable steps while ensuring a profitable outcome for surrounding communities and workers’.  Antofagasta, a Chilean mining company similar to Twin Metals, promised the same assurances.  After browsing both websites’ sustainability strategies, climate change strategies, and employee safety strategies, I found a common factor: empty promises lacking quantitative statistics.  A laughable promise I found on Antofagasta’s website was that ‘100% of our energy will be renewable by 2020.’  With no evidence to support this claim, I further present you with the urgent need to take action at the hearing that will propose the Twin Metals Copper mine.  

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“The Threat.” Save the Boundary Waters, 2018, www.savetheboundarywaters.org/the-threat.