Huber Engineered Woods (HEW), a North Carolina-based company, has proposed building an oriented strand board (OSB) plant in Cohasset, Minnesota, just east of Grand Rapids. The plant would also neighbor the lands of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe. Many have raised concerns about to the negative environmental impacts the plant could have on the surrounding area. The Cohasset City Council approved the HEW Environmental Assessment Worksheet at a public meeting on March 8. However, many groups wishing to address their concerns were denied the ability to address the government officials that night, as the council approved the worksheet without additional public comment.
We speak with Annie Humphrey, an artist and member of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, and Jamie Konopacky, Environmental Counsel for Honor the Earth about their concerns for the regional environment and protecting Minnesota's forests.
