State Mineral Exploration Leases Approved
The Minnesota Executive Committee agreed to permit exploration for minerals on state lands and privately held land where the state owns the minerals rights.
Land and Resource Use
Forest Service Okays Mineral Exploration Plan
The U.S. Forest Service has approved a plan for mining companies to expand the exploration for minerals in the Superior National Forest near Ely.
Groups Work to Restore North Shore Forest
A group of landowners and others concerned about North Shore forests are working to restore conifer forests to the Minnesota’s Lake Superior coast.
Cravaack Introduces BWCAW Land-swap Bill
Representative Chip Cravaack has introduced federal legislation to authorize an exchange of state lands within the Boundary Waters for federal land outside.
Judge Approves Superior ATV Routes
Superior National Forest administrators can move forward with plans to designate routes for use by ATVs and other off-road vehicles, District Court Judge Susan Richard Nelson has ruled.
Appeals Court Hears Cell Tower Case
An appeals court heard arguments on Tuesday over AT&T’s proposed 450-foot cell-phone tower at the edge of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness near Ely.
DNR Seeks Input on Ely Area Lakes
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is seeking public input on the management plans for 19 lakes and two streams near Ely.
Cravaack: PolyMet Review by October
Minnesota 8th District Representative Chip Cravaack expects the revised Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the PolyMet precious metal mine near Babbitt to be released by October.
BWCAW Visitors Older, More Educated
Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness visitors have become older and more educated in the last 40 years, a new report reveals.
Dog Teams Carry Mining Petitions
Environmental advocates concerned about mining in northeastern Minnesota are using dog teams to carry petitions to the state capitol in St. Paul.
Minnesota Legislators Battle over Trust Lands
Minnesota state legislators are arguing over who should administer more than 2.5 million acres of school trust lands in the forests of northern Minnesota.
Rep. Chip Cravaak Speaks in Favor of Mining, Polymet Project
U.S. Rep. Chip Cravaak says that environmentally sound mining is a vital part of a healthy Minnesota economy.
Forest Service Reduces 2012 Summer Boundary Waters Permits
The Forest Service has lowered quotas for six entry points into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) as a result of damage caused by the Pagami Creek Wildfire.
St. Louis County Supports Nonferrous Mining
The St. Louis County board finished out the year by narrowly voting to support nonferrous mining.
DNR to Host Ely Fisheries Open House
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is hosting an open house on Monday, January 9, to hear from stakeholders about fisheries in the Ely area.
Protestors Demonstrate Against Mine
Opposition to plans to mine copper, nickel, and precious metals in northeastern Minnesota took on an “Occupy Wall Street” tone when protesters demonstrated outside a Duluth Chamber of Commerce meeting yesterday.
National Forest Holiday Greenery Available
The Superior National Forest is reminding the public that its trees and boughs can be harvested for use in holiday decorating.
Superior Forest Head to Retire
Jim Sanders, who has held the top post on the Superior National Forest longer than any other forest supervisor, will retire at the end of December after 15 years in the position.
Ruffed Grouse Comments Sought
The Minnesota DNR is accepting comments from citizens interested in ruffed grouse and the habitat that supports the popular woodland game bird.
Lutsen Allowed to Pump from River
The Minnesota DNR will allow Lutsen Mountain ski area to pump water from the drought-parched Poplar River, a designated trout stream on Lake Superior’s North Shore.