February 1st, 2012 | 
Anonymous
MUSH!
Dogsled to St. Paul, delivering your letters and petition signatures!
Sign the petition here. Request that State and Federal authorities deny any permits for sulfide mining that threaten Minnesota’s water or natural resources.
Signatures will be carried on an eight-day dogsled trip to the State Capitol in March!
You can also print and distribute the paper petition. Stay tuned for more details!
Welcome to WaterLegacy, a grassroots citizens’ group formed in response to the threat of the first sulfide mine proposed in the State of Minnesota.
We have leadership in Northern Minnesota and in the Twin Cities Area and thousands of active members. We welcome you to become a member free of charge and receive updates on opportunities to take action and protect Minnesota waters 
from harms caused by sulfide mining.
from harms caused by sulfide mining.Recognized strength: A national organization that advises donors on the most effective non-profits in which to invest, Philanthropedia, has selected WaterLegacy as the #1 Most Promising Environmental Non-profit Start-up in Minnesota.
Mission: Protect Minnesota’s water resources and the communities (human and ecological) that depend on that water from environmental degradation, particularly that caused by sulfide mining.
Vision: We value fresh, clean water as a legacy for generations to come. We believe Minnesota’s freshwater is a precious ecological resource and is essential to the health of local communities and regional economies.
Strategies:
- WaterLegacy conducts non-partisan legal and technical research pertaining to sulfide mining, engages in regulatory and permitting processes, and provides training;
- WaterLegacy collaborates with and shares our work with citizens, tribes and with other non-profit organizations;
- WaterLegacy recruits citizen experts and encourages and coaches citizen participation and self-advocacy in regulatory and environmental review processes to protect water resources, habitats and environmental justice;
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WaterLegacy works with federal and state agency staff to prevent the weakening of environmental standards and to ensure that sulfide mining projects cannot circumvent requirements of statutes and rules.
“How we treat the water is how the water will treat us.”
-- Eddie Benton Benais, Anishinaabe (Ojibwe) Spiritual elder
WaterLegacy’s Advocacy Includes:
- PolyMet NorthMet Proposed Sulfide Mine. WaterLegacy provided detailed Comments on the PolyMet Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) critical of the project and publicized the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's failing grade for the PolyMet DEIS. WaterLegacy has commented on the possible Land Exchange pertaining to the PolyMet Project. We are following up with various agency staff to prepare for release of the Supplemental Draft EIS, expected to be released in 2012.
- Enforcement of Water Pollution Standards: Water pollution standards can only protect Minnesota waters from pollution if they are rigorously enforced. WaterLegacy is working with tribal staff, federal agencies, citizens and other non-profits to determine which mining permits raise the most concerns and then require tougher permits and better enforcement. WaterLegacy’s advocacy has includes the following mining projects: Dunka Mine; Keetac Mine Expansion Mercury Pollution; Keetac Mine Expansion Water Pollution; Aitkin Agri Peat Mine Mercury Pollution.
- Protecting Wild rice: WaterLegacy is working with many partners to protect natural stands of wild rice, through organizing, administrative rulemaking, participating in environmental review of proposed mines and even by defending the wild rice sulfate standard in a legal challenge brought by the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce. WaterLegacy is also participating in the State’s Wild Rice Advisory Committee. Some key documents include WaterLegacy's Wild Rice Report to the MPCA and WaterLegacy’s Wild Rice Fact Sheet
- Glencore Corporate investment in PolyMet: WaterLegacy is concerned that taxpayers will end up paying for financial liabilities for long-term pollution at the PolyMet NorthMet sulfide mine and that the international Glencore corporation has created a financial structure that will shield it from accountability. WaterLegacy has investigated the financial links between PolyMet and Glencore in its report PolyMet and Glencore an Overview.
How can you contribute to this important work?
==> Become a member of WaterLegacy free of charge and receive updates on opportunities to take Action and protect Minnesota waters from harms caused by sulfide mining.
==> Donate to support WaterLegacy’s work to protect Minnesota waters and the communities – human and ecological – that rely on them. Your donations are tax-deductible, and every dollar goes to support advocacy and organizing. Quick, easy, secure online donation.
==> Begin your own involvement through WaterLegacy to protect Minnesota waters. Check out our Citizen Engagement Pages for current opportunities to send petitions and comments, attend and participate in educational and outreach events.
Minnesota Water News
What’s new in Minnesota?
Sulfide Mining: Agencies are preparing a supplemental draft EIS and considering a new alternative project for PolyMet NorthMet proposed sulfide mine. The most recent PolyMet draft alternative summary eliminates some of the processing at the NorthMet site, meaning fewer jobs. The supplemental draft EIS is planned for release in 2012.
Wild Rice Sulfate Standard Applies to Minnesota Mine
Although compliance is likely to take too long, U. S. Steel’s water pollution permit approved on October 25, 2011 by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Citizen’s Board is the first permit to require a mining project to comply with Minnesota’s 10 mg/L limit for sulfate pollution in wild rice waters. U.S. Steel will be required to return every year to report their progress on reducing sulfate pollution and justify the continuation of the permit. Read the Star Tribune story.
What's new across the United States?
Tests find Toxins at Flambeau Mine (Journal Sentinel, Nov. 1, 2011)
"While lawmakers consider easing restrictions on mining, monitoring shows elevated copper and zinc levels in stream at closed Flambeau site." This "model" copper mine in Wisconsin has been held up by the industry as a glowing example of a clean, safe sulfide minerals mine. But after a decade of incomplete closure, toxic pollution is still reaching the Flambeau River. Read the full article.
