Many residents are unaware there is a storm brewing over the controversial issue of sulfide mining in northeastern Minnesota. To date, relatively little has been discussed as to the pros and cons of such a venture. However, our area representatives Rep. Dale Lueck and Sen. Carrie Ruud have both been very busy with this issue and from a personal perspective. Both have submitted numerous bills in the last week that have strong legal implications for the position of Minnesotans to accept or deny sulfide mining in our water rich state. Ruud also just transferred chair of the Committee on School Trust Lands to Lueck, a position with ability to greatly affect the outcome of this controversy. Before they bounce this back and forth and submit bills which could cripple our ability to decide for ourselves what we want, shouldn't they address the public on this matter? Also very disturbing in all this is a land trade that the U.S. Forest Service has made with Polymet Mining-land that is national forest land. I found it very uncomfortable to learn Ruud is a real estate broker and was chair of the Committee on School Trust Land when this trade was set up. She would presumably have known about it since she was chair. WaterLegacy.org is now taking this trade to court because the land being offered to Polymet is arguably worth as much as five times what it is purported to be. Shouldn't Ruud have caught this? Being a real estate expert? Something is not right here and people need information and answers.
Gloria Flor
Ironton
