The environmental coalition Mining Truth, comprised of the Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness, Conservation Minnesota, and the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy, has announced a new campaign. The “4 Simple Questions” effort is intended to educate the public about the risks of sulfide mining, and call on Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton to adhere to four principles when evaluating projects.
The campaign includes a petition on MiningTruth.org asking Dayton to answer the following four questions in considering permits for proposals like PolyMet and Twin Metals:
- Will Minnesota’s water stay safe and clean?
- Are there safeguards in place for when things go wrong?
- Will the company leave the site clean and maintenance-free?
- Will Minnesota’s taxpayers be protected?
The questions should come into focus when the revised environmental review for the PolyMet project is released later this fall.
According to a statement, the coalition is also placing extensive paid advertising, as well as outreach in communities around Minnesota. The coalition first went public on May 23, 2012 with billboards and other advertising.