Northeastern Minnesota would be home to a major national research center dedicated to the advancement of minerals research, mining technology and the environment under a plan announced this week by Rick Nolan, the DFL-endorsed candidate for 8th District Congress.
Nolan said the plan could generate several thousand new jobs.
The proposal is supported by former 8th District U.S. Rep. Jim Oberstar, the University of Minnesota Duluth’s Natural Resource Research Institute, NRRI, and the UMD Swenson College of Science and Engineering, according to a statement from Nolan.
Nolan said he will immediately introduce legislation to establish the United States Technical Institute for Mining and the Environment if he is elected and upon taking office in January. The exact northeastern Minnesota location for the TIME Center will be selected from proposals developed by the state, municipal and county governments and their private sector partners.
“As Minnesota’s next 8th District congressman, I intend to lead a national effort to advance mining technology in the United States. Building our nation’s mining industry while protecting the environment and the safety of our miners is an absolutely essential public policy challenge for America, as well as for our great mining regions here in northeastern Minnesota,” Nolan said. “The U.S. Bureau of Mines was closed by the Congress in 1996. Since that time we have done little to help our domestic mining industry or the environmental community to solve the difficult issues we face as a nation in developing our strategic mineral resources.”
Nolan faces DFL candidates Tarryl Clark and Jeff Anderson in the Aug. 14 primary election.
“As an advocate and as a leader in the Minnesota Senate, I fought to protect and create good jobs for Minnesota workers,” said Clark in a statement. “That consistent record is the reason that the United Steelworkers have endorsed me in this race and are actively campaigning with me across the Northland; the steelworkers are the backbone of the mining industry in northeast Minnesota and they are supporting me because I have always stood with them. They know I’ll fight for them and their jobs in Congress.”
Clark continued by stating, “Fostering economic development and new jobs — through workforce development, smart investments and increased public-private partnerships — is an urgent priority for northeast and central Minnesota. With the right advocate in Congress, we can build on our past successes and lead the world in 21st century mining that creates good-paying jobs while remaining responsible stewards of our environment. I have always supported an efficient and effective permitting process which guarantees protections for our workers, our water and our air. In Congress, I will continue to work on improving this process.”
Anderson told The Journal earlier this month that he has been an outspoken proponent of mining and said he “believes our future relies on investing and nurturing the precious metals mining.”
He uses mining as an example that can help create jobs through related industries in other parts of the district. “But we have to move (proposed mining projects) forward with those projects for that to happen and realize economic security,” he said.
The successful DFL candidate in the primary will face Congressman Chip Cravaack in the November general election.
A statement from Ben Golnik, Cravaack for Congress adviser, said Cravaack “will continue to be laser-focused on working to improve the economy and bring more jobs back to the 8th Congressional District. In his short time in Congress, Chip has worked to reduce excessive and duplicative red tape blocking economic development and job growth. In recognition of his commitment to creating jobs in the 8th District, the local 49ers endorsed Chip’s campaign last week.”
Meanwhile, Nolan said if elected he would seek a seat on the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources, which has jurisdiction over federal programs governing minerals mining. If Democrats win back the U.S. House in November, Nolan, with three terms of seniority from past Congressional service, could become chairman of that subcommittee.
