EPA identifies Minnesota wild rice waters affected by mine waste, sets up legal battle
Federal agency overrules state’s efforts to ignore sulfate pollution.
Mining
Parts of proposed PolyMet project’s mine permit rejected by state Supreme Court
Justices reverse state decisions about indefinite water treatment and tailings basin liner, while upholding other points.
Minnesota representatives introduce legislation to block and boost mining proposals
Members of Congress offer competing bills on copper-nickel mining near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area.
Brook trout found in Dunka River could be threatened by mining pollution
State assessment finds a coldwater stream with wild fish thriving — in the shadow of major mines.
Boundary Waters named an endangered waterway
BWCAW is #3 on the list of America’s Most Endangered Rivers, threatened by pollution from proposed mine.
Senator Smith calls for Biden appointees to finish mining study and consider 20-year prohibition
Letter requests new administration complete its analysis of whether mining can be done safely in Boundary Waters watershed.
Federal officials pause both Twin Metals and PolyMet copper-nickel mine proposals
Government attorneys, engineers, and scientists hit the brakes on both proposed mines in Minnesota’s northwoods.
Proposed changes to Minnesota clean water standards could loosen restrictions on pollution
State seeks to use new method to assess discharge from mines and other industrial facilities — discarding long-standing allowable levels.
Minnesota representatives seek to block mining bans
New legislation prohibits the executive branch from enacting moratoriums that could block proposed mine near the Boundary Waters.
Prove It First bill and a Path to Permanent Protection
Elected officials and environmental groups roll out plans for legislation and other actions to prevent contamination.
MN DNR seeks more specifics about Twin Metals mine proposal and possible impacts
New rounds of correspondence between DNR and mining company tries to nail down details needed for environmental review.
Legislators and advocates call for “Prove It First” copper-nickel mining law in Minnesota
Legislation would require high standard of evidence that a mine can be operated without polluting. “Before they put a shovel into the ground…”
Federal government will review mining exploration’s impacts on endangered species
Agency agrees to consider how copper prospecting near Boundary Waters could affect lynx and bats.
DNR and wilderness advocates agree on review of state’s mining rules
Legal settlement requires DNR to determine if untested regulations are strong enough to protect Boundary Waters.
Environmental lawyers argue at Supreme Court that PolyMet plans bigger mine than permitted
Groups allege company could triple size of project soon after start, violating the Clean Air Act.
Court rules that Minnesota pollution regulators obeyed law when working on PolyMet permit
Decision in lawsuit finds that agency tried to keep criticisms from public, but did not violate any statutes.
Lawsuit alleges pro-mining Congressmen pressured Forest Service on Twin Metals decisions
Environmental groups have added a new complaint to their lawsuit about how the federal government decided to renew mineral leases for Twin Metals. The groups say representatives exerted “undue influence” on Forest Service personnel.
‘A Northern Light’ Patagonia’s new short film featuring the Boundary Waters
Intimate and lyrical production follows activist through wilderness as he reflects on its value and the threat of mining.
Legislation includes measure to block federal review of Twin Metals mine proposal
Rep. McCollum pushes to prohibit action on mining upstream of the Boundary Waters. A bill to provide funding to the Department of the Interior in the next fiscal year would cover everything from the National Park Service to the Environmental Protection Agency…
Documents show how mining company behind Twin Metals successfully loosened federal oversight
Relationship between foreign mining company and Trump administration officials revealed in government files.