Better In Our Back Yard

WE AGREE WITH REPRESENTATIVE WARWAS: MINNESOTA DESERVES A FAIR, SCIENCE BASED REVIEW Minnesota should not allow politics to replace the environmental-review process. Governor Walz’s executive order prevents proposed nonferrous mining projects in the Rainy River Headwaters Watershed from even being evaluated under Minnesota’s rigorous environmental standards. Yet an important fact is missing from much of this debate: Canada has operated the Rainy River Gold Mine in Ontario since 2017. That active, large-scale mine produces gold and silver from sulfide-bearing ore near the Rainy River—within the broader Rainy River watershed. For nearly a decade, it has operated under Canadian environmental oversight while Minnesota is being told that projects on our side of the border should not even be allowed to undergo review. Projects that cannot protect water, meet strict environmental requirements, and earn the necessary permits should not move forward. But projects should be evaluated by scientists, engineers, and state regulators, not rejected by political decree before the facts can be examined. If modern mining can operate across the border under stringent safeguards, Minnesota communities deserve the opportunity to demonstrate whether responsible development can meet our own high standards. Protecting the Boundary Waters and pursuing family-supporting jobs, critical minerals, and economic opportunity are not mutually exclusive. To read more of Cal's thoughts, please visit the link below: https://lnkd.in/grR4yZ9t

Borealis Mining's CEO Kelly Malcolm will be speaking this fall at Better In Our Back Yard's 2nd Annual Mining & Energy Expo. Kelly is joining leaders from fully permitted and advancing U.S. mining projects for a featured panel examining how domestic mineral production can strengthen America's national security and economic resilience. We hope to see you in Minneapolis this fall. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gZ-xpvxs #BorealisMining #Mining #Nevada #Gold #BOGO #BORMF

A major step forward for Stillwater Critical Minerals and its Stillwater West project in Montana. Stillwater has announced an updated Mineral Resource Estimate that more than doubles the project’s Inferred Mineral Resource while establishing its first-ever Indicated Mineral Resource, marking an important advancement in both the scale of the resource and the geological confidence behind it. The updated estimate includes 805.1 million tonnes of Inferred resources and 29.4 million tonnes of Indicated resources, containing significant quantities of nickel, copper, cobalt, platinum, palladium, gold, and rhodium. The expansion also positions Stillwater West as the largest known rhodium deposit in North America and the largest nickel and cobalt deposit in an active U.S. mining district. Located alongside existing mines and processing infrastructure in Montana’s historic Stillwater mining district, the project represents an important domestic opportunity for minerals increasingly critical to American energy, manufacturing, and national security. With the current resource estimate covering only 10 kilometers of Stillwater’s 32-kilometer land position, significant exploration potential remains. Congratulations to the entire Stillwater Critical Minerals team on reaching this important milestone! To read the full press releahttps://lnkd.in/ghietj3G, please visit the link below:

The next generation of workers is entering the workforce with different expectations. Is your company ready to compete for them? We’re excited to welcome back Thomas Haun, President & Founder of Turner Staffing Group, to the BIOBY Mining & Energy Expo for another fast-paced, practical session focused on one of the biggest challenges facing America’s mining and energy industries: attracting and retaining the next generation of workforce. Thomas will explore how companies can rethink retention, invest in training and development, use company culture and storytelling as recruiting tools, and leverage social media and digital engagement to better connect with the next generation of workers. After bringing tremendous energy to last year’s Expo, we’re looking forward to having Thomas back to share real-world strategies companies can put to work as they build the workforce needed for the future. Wednesday, September 30 10:15 AM Cedar Room | Radisson Blu – Mall of America Join us September 29 – October 2 in Minneapolis for the 2nd Annual BIOBY Mining & Energy Expo! Secure your spot now! https://lnkd.in/gzUFdNvF

Registration is open for our Annual Membership Dinner!   This has been an incredibly eventful year for Minnesota’s mining and exploration industry, and we’re looking forward to bringing industry leaders, elected officials, partners, and fellow members together.   Join us on October 8 for an evening of networking, education and conversation about the projects, people, and opportunities shaping the future of Minnesota mining.   Event details: https://lnkd.in/gtQfcdg5 Not a MiningMinnesota member yet? This is a great time to get involved. Learn more about membership and why supporting Minnesota’s mining industry matters: https://lnkd.in/gUeJuZdb   A special thank you to our growing list of sponsors: Great River Energy Minnesota Power Department of Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation Better In Our Back Yard Duluth Seaway Port Authority SEH Velocity Public Affairs

COPPER MUST BE MINED AND REFINED IN AMERICA. Copper prices recently surged to all-time highs, but a new Forbes report highlights an even bigger long-term concern: China’s growing influence over the global copper supply chain. Since 2005, China has accounted for more than 90% of the growth in global copper smelting output. The contrast with the United States is staggering: Since 1970, the U.S. has shuttered more than 10 copper smelters and refineries.  China has built 41 over the past 30 years and refined roughly 12 million metric tons of copper in 2023. The United States refined just over 890,000 metric tons that same year. The good news? America has American solutions. Gunnison Copper (TSX: GCU | OTC: GCUMF) and Florence Copper are already producing copper cathodes on site in Arizona. Ivanhoe Electric’s Santa Cruz Copper Project is preparing to begin initial construction activities this year and is also designed to produce copper cathodes on site. Beyond these projects, the United States has a significant pipeline of potential domestic copper production at various stages of exploration, permitting, development, and construction: • Resolution Copper — Arizona • NewRange Copper Nickel’s NorthMet Project — Minnesota • Twin Metals Minnesota LLC — Minnesota • Ivanhoe Electric's Santa Cruz Copper Project — Arizona • Hudbay Minerals Inc.'s Cactus Project — Arizona • Hudbay Minerals Inc.'s Copper World — Arizona • Hecla Mining Company's Libby Exploration Project — Montana • Stillwater Critical Minerals — Montana • Metallic Minerals Corp's La Plata Project — Colorado • Highland Copper Company Inc.'s Copperwood Project — Michigan • U.S. Gold Corp.'s CK Gold Project — Wyoming • Pebble Project — Alaska • Idaho Copper Corp. — Idaho • Hercules Metals' Project — Idaho • New Mexico Copper's Copper Flat Project — New Mexico • GreenLight Metals Inc.’ Projects — Wisconsin But mining more copper is only half of the equation. In June, the Pentagon took the significant step of selecting companies to develop critical mineral processing facilities on U.S. Army installations, including graphite processing in Arkansas and Alabama and heavy rare earth processing at Utah’s Tooele Army Depot. That sends a powerful message: domestic mineral processing is a national security priority. Copper deserves that same urgency. As these American copper projects move through exploration, permitting, financing, and construction, we should simultaneously be expanding the domestic smelting, refining, and processing capacity necessary to support them. Otherwise, America risks mining world-class copper resources at home while remaining dependent on foreign countries to turn those resources into the finished metal needed for our electrical grid, manufacturing, infrastructure, and national defense. To read the Forbes' article, please visit the link below: https://lnkd.in/gCdfzie3

A TALE OF TWO GREAT LAKES STATES AND TWO VERY DIFFERENT REALITIES From Minnesota’s Iron Range to Michigan’s U.P. Range, two neighboring Great Lakes states are creating two entirely different realities for responsible copper mining. Last week, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz signed an executive order halting environmental review and permitting for nonferrous mining projects in the Rainy River Headwaters Watershed. The order attempts to directly hinder multiple projects and prevents regulators from determining whether they can meet Minnesota’s rigorous environmental standards. Twin Metals Minnesota LLC is proposing a $1.7 billion underground copper, nickel, cobalt and platinum group metals mine near Ely and Babbitt. It could create more than 750 direct jobs, 1,500 additional regional jobs and several million union construction hours. The project proposes a surface footprint up to 85 percent smaller than a comparable open pit mine and dry stack tailings technology that eliminates the need for a conventional tailings dam. These plans should be evaluated by scientists and regulators—not rejected politically before environmental review can occur. Meanwhile, one week later, Michigan approved $50 million through the Michigan Strategic Fund to advance Highland Copper’s fully permitted Copperwood Project in the Western U.P. Range. The $425 million project is expected to create 380 jobs paying between $80,000 and $120,000 annually and generate $121 million in state and local tax revenue. Combined with up to $250 million in potential financing from the U.S. Export Import Bank, this support moves Copperwood closer to construction. Michigan allowed Copperwood to undergo rigorous environmental review, secure its permits and earn the opportunity to advance. Minnesota is denying Twin Metals even the chance to do the same. Two Great Lakes states. Two historic mining regions. Two proposed copper mines. Two entirely different realities. Michigan is investing in its U.P. Range, family supporting jobs and America’s copper supply chain. Minnesota is placing political roadblocks in front of its Iron Range and replacing scientific review with predetermined rejection. Congratulations to Highland Copper Company Inc. and the Western Upper Peninsula on this major step forward. Minnesota’s Iron Range deserves the same opportunity.

Cleveland-Cliffs is doubling down on American steelmaking with a $1 billion investment in Middletown Works in Ohio, supported by a rescoping of a previously awarded $500 million U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) grant.  Announced last week, the investment includes state of the art upgrades to the blast furnace, which is used to produce automotive-grade steels, for cars, trucks and SUVs. Steel has been made at this site since 1901, making Middletown Works part of more than 125 years of American industrial history. Generations of families in Middletown have built their livelihoods around this plant, which today remains one of the country's most important producers of automotive-grade steel. Now, Cleveland-Cliffs is investing to make sure that legacy continues for decades to come. What makes this investment especially significant is the American supply chain behind it. Cleveland-Cliffs owns and operates the iron ore mines in Minnesota's Iron Range and Michigan's Upper Peninsula that produce iron ore pellets feeding its steelmaking operations, including Middletown. American ore, mined by American workers, transformed into American steel. The Middletown project will modernize the blast furnace, upgrade material-handling infrastructure, introduce AI-enabled process controls, and build an advanced cogeneration facility that will capture blast furnace gas to generate electricity and steam on site.   ✅ 2,300 existing jobs preserved    ✅ 1,500+ workers at peak construction, including local union building trades    ✅ 3 million tons of annual steelmaking capacity maintained     ✅ $1 billion invested in a plant making steel in Middletown since 1901 From Cleveland-Cliffs' taconite mines in Minnesota and Michigan to its blast furnace in Middletown, this is what a vertically integrated American steel supply chain looks like. Mine it. Make it. Build it in America.  https://lnkd.in/eDTaNJdj

BREAKING NEWS: COPPERWOOD SECURES $50 MILLION IN STATE SUPPORT Congratulations to Highland Copper Company Inc. and the communities of the Western Upper Peninsula for securing $50 million from the Michigan Strategic Fund to advance the fully permitted Copperwood Project. This represents a major step forward for the $425 million copper project and a generational opportunity for a region that needs new investment and family-supporting jobs. Copperwood is expected to create 380 jobs paying between $80,000 and $120,000 annually, generate $121 million in state and local tax revenue over its operating life, and support critical upgrades to roads, utilities, and broadband. The funding includes $44.9 million for site-readiness work and $5 million for the Gogebic County Road Commission. Combined with up to $250 million in potential financing from the U.S. Export-Import Bank, this brings Copperwood closer to Highland Copper’s goal of beginning construction in 2028. Similar to Talon Metals Corp.'s Eagle Mine, which has operated in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula since 2014, and Wisconsin’s Flambeau Mine, which operated from 1993 to 1997, Copperwood can demonstrate that responsible mining, strong environmental protections, and economic opportunity can advance together. To learn more, please visit the link below: https://lnkd.in/g269k4nG

Minnesota’s mining industry has operated under rigorous environmental standards for generations, and the workers who have built their careers in this industry deserve a regulatory process that is consistent, predictable, and grounded in science. Governor Walz’s executive order disrupts that process by halting the science- and law-based permitting and environmental review for certain copper-nickel projects in northeastern Minnesota. For the skilled tradespeople who have spent decades safely building, operating, and maintaining Minnesota’s mines, this decision creates significant uncertainty around opportunities that could support workers and their families for generations to come. As Ryan Davies, Business Manager for IUOE Local 49, emphasizes in his quote, Minnesota workers were promised that proposed projects would be allowed to move through the established process. Changing course now undermines confidence in a system designed to determine whether projects can meet Minnesota’s high environmental standards. Northeastern Minnesota has proudly supplied the resources that built our state and nation for more than a century. As America looks to produce more of the critical minerals we need here at home, we should stand behind the skilled workers ready to do that work and allow science, not politics, to determine which projects move forward. To learn more about this executive order, please visit the link below: https://lnkd.in/gNkgv9BR