Reader's View: Miners on front lines of environmental protection

I have a home on Janet Lake, about 17 miles south of Hibbing, and I swim and fish in other bodies of water near U.S. Steel’s Keetac mine. I have a vested interest in protecting the area’s water quality, and I’m fortunate to work with hundreds of other miners, all members of the United Steelworkers (USW) who share my passion for preserving Minnesota’s rich natural resources.

My coworkers and I prove every day that responsible mining and environmental stewardship go hand in hand — a point overlooked in the anti-mining op-ed in the News Tribune on April 4, headlined, “ Get facts straight on mining to protect Minnesota's clean waters .”

USW members advocated for the Clean Air Act, and we continue to push for effective environmental regulations in Minnesota and across the country. In addition, strong union contracts empower our members to speak out and hold employers accountable for any violations.

I trust the water flowing out of Keetac because my fellow union members — outdoor enthusiasts with a deep reverence for Minnesota’s natural beauty — are the ones responsible for treating and testing it.

America’s economy and security require the taconite produced at the Keetac and Minntac mines, just as the nation urgently needs the nickel and other precious metals to be produced at the Talon mine in Aitkin County.

What’s more, mining jobs have an outsized impact on the state’s tax base, not only supporting local schools, parks, and fire departments but helping to pay for the very environmental agencies monitoring Minnesota’s air and water.

Minnesota needs both a robust mining industry and a healthy environment. USW miners remain committed to safeguarding both.

Cliff Tobey

Janet Lake

The writer is a joint efforts and benefits coordinator for USW Locals 1938 and 2660, which represents miners at Minntac and Keetac.