Commentary gave short shrift to company's safety record

By Tom Bader

Tom Bader, Stillwater, is PG office manager and vice president of URS Corp. in Minneapolis.

A commentary published Oct. 26 on proposed mining operations in northern Minnesota mischaracterizes URS, the company I work for.

URS has served the state of Minnesota for over 50 years, and has safely and successfully completed some of the largest, most environmentally sensitive projects in the state and around the country. URS has an exemplary performance record and we place paramount importance on the health and well-being of the public and our staff in everything we do. Here are some facts:

URS has unmatched experience managing challenging, complex assignments and safeguarding local communities. We have assisted the Federal Emergency Management Agency with the assessment and repair of roadways, levee systems and other public facilities following natural disasters. We also work closely with the Environmental Protection Agency to respond to oil leaks, chemical spills and other emergencies around the country that threaten public safety and natural resources. Additionally, we manage some of the federal government's most critical programs, such as safely disposing of the nation's chemical weapons stockpile.

URS is trusted by government agencies and private companies for its environmental expertise. For example, URS has successfully managed the cleanup of major Cold War-era nuclear waste sites, including the Idaho Cleanup Project, one of the largest environmental cleanup projects in history.

URS has more than a century of experience on mining projects around the world. We offer a full range of services, many of them designed to reduce impact on air quality and the water supply. We have an excellent safety record.

URS is a long-term corporate citizen of Minnesota, and we care deeply about the state, its environment and the safety of our fellow Minnesotans. We have successfully completed hundreds of projects in and around the state, recently including several transit projects in Minneapolis, landfill reconstruction and closure projects in Lake Elmo and Duluth, and the restoration of the historic Union Depot in St. Paul.

Unfortunately, the Oct. 26 commentary ignored these points, and focused on the I-35W bridge tragedy. The fact is that after a comprehensive study, the National Transportation Safety Board concluded that the I-35W bridge collapse was caused by a design flaw and compounded by other factors, none of which were the result of URS' work. URS was not involved in the design or building of the bridge, nor was it involved in any of the subsequent construction projects, including the resurfacing work being done when the bridge collapsed.

We appreciate the opportunity to set the record straight. URS is committed to assisting Twin Metals with a safe and environmentally sensitive mine design in northern Minnesota.