Biden Administration Blocks Mining Near Minnesota Wilderness Area
The Biden administration moved Thursday to block mining upstream of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area of Northern Minnesota for 20 years, opting to protect a pristine wilderness over allowing production of minerals that could help fuel a potentially cleaner future.
The administration last year canceled two federal mineral rights leases held by Twin Metals Minnesota LLC, a unit of Chilean mining firm
Antofagasta Minerals SA
. The latest move could kill the company’s planned underground copper-nickel mine, although Twin Metals said it would continue to fight the cancellation.
The order signed by Interior Secretary
Deb Haaland
withdraws from federal leasing programs some 225,504 acres in the Superior National Forest, protecting the Rainy River watershed, including the Boundary Waters and territory ceded to the Chippewa Bands from potential damage from mining.
“Protecting a place like Boundary Waters is key to supporting the health of the watershed and its surrounding wildlife, upholding our Tribal trust and treaty responsibilities, and boosting the local recreation economy,” Secretary Haaland said in a press release.
Twin Metals said it was deeply disappointed and stunned by the latest federal action and that it would continue to pursue a lawsuit it filed against the government to enforce its rights.
“This region sits on top of one of the world’s largest deposits of critical minerals that are vital in meeting our nation’s goals to transition to a clean energy future, to create American jobs, to strengthen our national security and to bolster domestic supply chains,” the company said.
The 1.1 million-acre Boundary Waters area, which includes more than 1,000 lakes, 1,200 miles of canoe routes and 2,000 designated campsites, draws more than 150,000 visitors annually, making it the most-visited wilderness area in the U.S., the Interior Department said.
Write to Joe Barrett at [email protected]
Corrections & Amplifications
The Biden administration moved to block mining upstream of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area of Northern Minnesota. An earlier version of this article incorrectly said the administration moved to block mining in the wilderness area. (Corrected on Jan. 26)
Copyright ©2022 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8
The Biden administration moved Thursday to block mining upstream of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area of Northern Minnesota for 20 years, opting to protect a pristine wilderness over allowing production of minerals that could help fuel a potentially cleaner future.
The administration last year canceled two federal mineral rights leases held by Twin Metals Minnesota LLC, a unit of Chilean mining firm
Antofagasta Minerals SA
. The latest move could kill the company’s planned underground copper-nickel mine, although Twin Metals said it would continue to fight the cancellation.
The order signed by Interior Secretary
Deb Haaland
withdraws from federal leasing programs some 225,504 acres in the Superior National Forest, protecting the Rainy River watershed, including the Boundary Waters and territory ceded to the Chippewa Bands from potential damage from mining.
“Protecting a place like Boundary Waters is key to supporting the health of the watershed and its surrounding wildlife, upholding our Tribal trust and treaty responsibilities, and boosting the local recreation economy,” Secretary Haaland said in a press release.
Twin Metals said it was deeply disappointed and stunned by the latest federal action and that it would continue to pursue a lawsuit it filed against the government to enforce its rights.
“This region sits on top of one of the world’s largest deposits of critical minerals that are vital in meeting our nation’s goals to transition to a clean energy future, to create American jobs, to strengthen our national security and to bolster domestic supply chains,” the company said.
The 1.1 million-acre Boundary Waters area, which includes more than 1,000 lakes, 1,200 miles of canoe routes and 2,000 designated campsites, draws more than 150,000 visitors annually, making it the most-visited wilderness area in the U.S., the Interior Department said.
Write to Joe Barrett at [email protected]
Corrections & Amplifications
The Biden administration moved to block mining upstream of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area of Northern Minnesota. An earlier version of this article incorrectly said the administration moved to block mining in the wilderness area. (Corrected on Jan. 26)
Copyright ©2022 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8
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