Lynx Talking Points
These points are presented to you in order that you can better understand the Lynx issue in Minnesota. By the time this issue is published the USFWS will have opened a new public comment period for the economic impact of designating the entire arrowhead region of Minnesota as “Critical Habitat for Lynx.” This area runs from International Falls to Duluth, using highway #53 as the boundary thus everything east would be “Critical Habitat.” Each of the points below has equal weight and thus equally important.
Please write a letter to the USFWS denouncing this attempt to control Minnesota’s forest. Letters from you, your spouse, significant other, children, grandchildren, in-laws and outlaws, in state or out should be sent to:
Public Comments Processing
Attn: {FWS-RS-ES-2008-0026}
Division of Policy and Directives Management
United States Fish and Wildlife Service
4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite 222
Arlington, VA. 22203
- There is no scientific reason to have the lynx on endangered spices list. The core range covers Alaska, Canada and Newfoundland and there has never been a large population of lynx in the US. Lynx are nomadic and follows the snowshoe hair population, which is cyclical. The lynx needs to be de-listed.
- There are currently five mining companies that are performing exploration activities in this area….Three of these mining companies have approximately 20,000 acres of state non-ferrous mineral leases in the proposed Lynx critical habitat area. Mining of these non-ferrous minerals could result in royalty payments to the Minnesota School Trust Fund in excess of $1.4 billion during 30 years of mining at these three operations based on current metal prices.
- The Duluth Complex is ranked third in the world for nickel content and second for both copper content and platinum group metals content. Additionally, these deposits contain approximately ninety-five percent (95%) of U.S. nickel resources, thirty-four percent (34%) of U.S. copper resources, and seventy-five percent (75%) of U.S. platinum group metals resources. These metals have the potential to greatly enhance the United States and local economies as well as enhance the national security of the United States.
- Federal law recognizes that mineral exploration and mining in the Superior National Forest is in the national interest of the United States. Additionally, federal law establishes that federal agencies should not prioritize surface uses over access to minerals. Because the designation of the Superior National Forest as critical habitat for Canada Lynx will unreasonably restrict access to critical minerals, the proposed designation is inconsistent with federal law.
- Twenty-four communities are found within this area all with local infrastructure, schools, churches and a business district. To restrict each of these communities from expansion and restrict their tourism ability would add undue stress to cities already in peril.
- Minnesota’s logging industry would suffer a crippling blow that would put an end many of the privately owned logging businesses, as we know them today.
- In 30 years of implementing the Act, the Service has found that the designation of statutory critical habitat provides little additional protection to most listed species.