With the Nelson Backwater Mine EIS currently in its comment review period, a letter from Grey Cloud resident Tim Tuthill to Council member Monique Garza was entered into the public record at the Jan 22 Cottage Grove City Council meeting, as follows:

Dear Cottage Grove Councilperson Monique Garza:
I am writing to each of you with grave concern over this particular river basin project. I am traditionally a very pro-business supporter this in this case Risk vs. Reward for the City and its residents is very clear.

Reward:
1) The city collects tax dollars to help contribute to the cost of city functions
2) The City continues to supply needed construction material for surrounding metro area
3) Retain 40 local jobs
4) Allow a Cottage Grove Private Business to operate freely while making a profit.

Environmental and Human Impact Cons:
*We already have a SEVERE water contamination problem due to 3M of which this project is scheduled to dig 200 feet deep. My personal well in Grey Cloud is in the Jordan Aquifer at 180 feet. Which transfers to a punching a hole into the drinking water aquifer within a mile of the industrial source of this water pollution and can only imagine how contaminated the water is at the basin location of this project? At some point in this project’s trajectory they will strike water. Look at all their existing old mining pools and test the water for contaminants and you will see. We cannot allow to voluntarily put ourselves at further risks of water contamination into our river system and water supply in the local aquifer. No matter what berm you arrange there is permeation as we’ve seen in the 3M disaster throughout the East metro. We have annual uncertain floods into our future which will likely cause further contamination potential into any remaining mining pools. Holcim will be long gone by the time our City residents are left to pick up these pieces because it will be the end of this project and they are a foreign company…adios amigos. We can’t afford one more water disaster in this area of Cottage Grove.
***Please do not set up Cottage Grove Residents for a future PREVENTABLE Catastrophe. The tax money we will receive as residents will never make up for the eventual fallout and devastation to the environmental damage and human use of the river, fisheries, wildlife, etc…(ie: 3M)
Final note: Thanks for taking the time to read my concerns and know that we are now the largest Industrial Park in the State of Minnesota and have plenty of openings for the 40 employees and that there are other mining options available, of which we are not solely responsible for providing as a City to the metro area. We have done our part for mining in this area. The River is managed by the Minnesota DNR as a UNIQUE fishery and wildlife natural scenic waterway for legitimate reasons. We are at the top of the water supply for the Mississippi River through the length of this entire country and it’s our obligation to flow citizens of this nation not to voluntarily threaten their life’s water supply of which we already screwed up with 3M. Holcim can purchase new mining properties INLAND and not on TOP of the river. Thanks again for hearing my concerns and voting down this particular project. The potential cost is definitely not worth the benefit for the residents of Cottage Grove and environmental elements collectively. I’m hopeful you will not allow this project to move forward. Thank you.
Sincerely:
Tim Tuthill