Their concerns are very legitimate and the actions of the federal Environmental Protection Agency and the state Department of Commerce should outrage all of Minnesota’s elected representatives and those who are seeking such seats of power and influence.

Once again 8th District U.S. Rep. Chip Cravaack was on hand to not just voice support, but to show his support and advocacy for copper/nickel/precious metals projects on the Range and all other resource-based economic ventures.

Cravaack’s words of support in these areas have been matched by his actions in Congress. He has had successes in pushing through an amendment attached to a strategic minerals bill that would streamline the permitting process and remove some duplication for nonferrous mining. That bill is currently waiting on Senate action. Whether it will even be brought to the floor by Democratic Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is highly uncertain.

Cravaack also has gotten a Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness land transfer bill out of committee to the House floor, where it is waiting on a vote. It would then need Senate approval. The measure, which would pave the way for more School Trust Fund dollars to be generated, gives the needed federal blessing to a bill already passed by the state Legislature.

Local officials — represented by mayors, school board members, city councilors and mining and Minnesota Power personnel — say they want a face-to-face meeting with elected officials from Gov. Mark Dayton to U.S. Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken on Iron Range economic development issues.

We couldn’t agree more. We are sick and tired of too many comments about support of economic development and jobs for the Range without those words being backed up by true advocacy.

We applaud the efforts of the local East Range officials to bring some deserved attention to these economic issues so vital to the very economic future of the area.