Project proposed for Eighth District designed by North Branch firm

A North Branch architectural designer has created drawings for an institute being promoted in the Eighth Congressional District primary race. Dennis Odin Johnson of Natural Spaces Domes put together the architectural conceptual drawings used by candidate Rick Nolan when introducing his plans for TIME, the Technical Institute for Mining and the Environment, at a press conference last week. Nolan, Tarryl Clark and Jeff Anderson-- all of northern MN-- are running in the DFL primary August 14 for the chance to be on the Democrat ticket against incumbent Congressman Chip Cravaack, R-North Branch. Nolan said the Bureau of Mines was shut down in 1996. There has been little focus on helping the domestic mining industry find technological innovations or in helping address negative environmental issues related to mining. Candidate Jeff Anderson responded that more “studies,” or this institute, won’t put people to work. He says he is the only DFL candidate to support streamlining the permitting process, a major issue in this campaign in northern Minnesota. Anderson said sulfate discharge levels need to be made comparable to those in the ag industries and waste treatment facility permits. Candidate Clark stated she will “fight for jobs in Congress” and noted she has the backing of the steelworkers. She said she would continue to work towards an “effective and efficient” permitting process for new mining operations. At issue in this congressional race is the mining industry’s comeback in northern Minnesota and how to balance mining operations against environmental concerns. A bill for an amendment to HR 4402 introduced by U.S. Rep. Cravaack July 12 seeks to “provide a guaranteed timeframe” of 30 months for the federal permitting process for mineral exploration. The Polymet Mining project, according to Cravaack’s statement, “must get done.” The firm initiated environmental review of plans for a copper and nickel mine in 2005. This amendment to the National Strategic and Critical Minerals Production Act of 2012 was adopted unanimously in the House (HR 4402.) Below: the institute design.