STATE OF MINNESOTA FIFTH MEETING
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES EIGHTY-NINTH SESSION
MINING & OUTDOOR RECREATION POLICY COMMITTEE
MINUTES
Representative Hackbarth, Chair of the Mining and Outdoor Recreation Policy Committee, called the fifth meeting to order at 2:47 P.M. on Tuesday, February 3 2015, in Room 10 of the State Office Building.
The Committee Legislative Assistant noted the roll.
Members present:
HACKBARTH, Tom, Chair LUECK, Dale, VC
ANDERSON, Mark
ANZELC, Tom
CONSIDINE, John
CORNISH, Tony
DILL, David
HERTAUS, Jerry
JOHNSON, Brian
LUCERO, Eric
MELIN, Carly
METSA, Jason
YARUSSO, Barb
Members excused:
MCNAMARA, Denny
KIEL, Debra
Representative Hackbarth called the meeting to order at 2:47 P.M. A quorum was present.
Representative Considine moved to approve the minutes of January 27, 2015. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
The following people testified for the non-ferrous mining informational hearing and took questions from committee members:
Frank Ongaro, Executive Director of Mining Minnesota, gave an overview on the non-ferrous mining industry.
Brad Moore, Executive Vice President, Environmental and Government Affairs for Polymet, and Tina Pint, Vice President of Barr Engineering and Project Manager for Polymet, presented a permitting project update.
Bob McFarlin, Vice President of Public and Government Affairs for Twin Metals, gave an update on Twin Metals’ underground non-ferrous mining project in the Iron Range region of northeast Minnesota.
The following members of the public testified on non-ferrous mining:
Tony Kwilas, Director of Environmental Policy for the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce.
Harry Melander, President of the Minnesota State Building and Construction Trades Council.
Kate Lehmann, CFO of Vermillion Gold and Beaver Bay Inc.
Betsy Daub, Policy Director for Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness.
Gordon Meier and Heather Meier, residents of Ely (St. Louis County).
Bob Tammen, resident of Soudan (St. Louis County).
Dick Backstrom, CEO of Idea Drilling.
Mark Skelton, Mayor of Hoyt Lakes (St. Louis County).
Dave Lislegard, Aurora City Council Member.
Becky Rom, resident of Ely (St. Louis County).
The meeting was adjourned at 4:33 P.M.
Representative Tom Hackbarth, Chair
Claire Leiter, Committee Legislative Assistant