The Pros And Cons Of Sulfide Mining

Sulfide Mining According to MiningMinnesota.com, “A sulfide is any compound or mineral in which a metallic ion is bonded with sulphur ions” (Mining Minnesota). Sulfide mining is the mining of such ions. Companies, such as PolyMet and Twin Metals Minnesota, are fighting for the right to go to northern and northeastern Duluth where there is a large undeveloped deposit of these precious metals (PolyMet Mining). We use these metals, like copper and nickel, everyday. These companies are trying to get the metals out of the earth so they can become useful to us and so we can use them. When these metals are extracted from the ground the produce sulfuric acid that is not good for the environment. It is also a loud process. According to WaterLegacy.com,

In Minnesota we already have a law where these companies have to put up a damage deposit and there’s also a law that prohibits mines requiring long-term treatment of polluted water after closure. (Strand, Danicic, and Austin). A strength is that we already have these laws in place all we have to do is enforce them, but the downfall is that these laws may not be strong enough. These mixed together with some participative justice is the approach that is the best. Having the community have more of a say in the deciding whether or not they mine, and where, while at the same time creating and following stricter environmental laws to keep the water safe and usable by the community. Recycling electronics can help make our need for these mines less. A strength of this is that it has justices from many aspects. It isn’t completely binary. The downfall is that if the mining companies did everything right the mines would go in and destroy hundreds of acres of Minnesota wetlands (Mining

The people who would be directly impacted by these mines would get to have a voice, not just the profit makers. It would also practice a distributive justice by keeping the water clean for all involved. It also tries to help shield the taxpayers from having to pay for any clean up. The laws involved would be a retributive justice, if the companies do not follow the law they will get fined or worse. Recognition justice would address the needs of the people in the community, not just the needs of the big companies. Hopefully there won’t be any need for restorative justice if they either avoid mining or do it