Wilderness water and mining woes focus of mini-documentary
Revealing new report on the debate over Twin Metals mine proposal, features opinions in Ely and potential impacts on the Superior National Forest.
Mining
PolyMet opponents take case that mine permits are flawed to Court of Appeals
Hearing in St. Paul hosted arguments about numerous contested components of three permits issued to the company by the Department of Natural Resources.
What’s at stake with Twin Metals? Diving into Ely’s mining debate
In-depth report from ‘Almanac’ features interviews with Ely residents holding diverse perspectives on the Twin Metals proposal and what it might mean for the Boundary Waters.
Court puts PolyMet mine on pause while investigating new information
Minnesota Court of Appeals orders halt on project after new questions arise about permits, risks, and responsibilities.
Release of new EPA emails shows how officials suppressed PolyMet comments
EPA releases additional emails that show communication between state and federal government agencies about holding back official comments critical of the project’s water permit.
Wilderness advocate working on trail run across Boundary Waters
Wilderness advocate Alex Falconer has completed the first leg of an attempt to run from east to west through much of the BWCAW as a way to increase awareness of mining threats.
Environmental groups ask Minnesota Supreme Court to review state’s mining regulations
Organizations say Court of Appeals process showed how Minnesota’s mining regulations are ‘full of loopholes,’ as demonstrated by PolyMet permit.
Minnesota’s governor responds to questions about mine proposals
Tim Walz talks about PolyMet’s new owner and Twin Metals’ future in a new interview, after staying mostly silent on the subject so far.
PolyMet project put on hold while court considers permitting ‘irregularities’
Controversial copper mine in northern Minnesota will have to wait to move forward until courts consider possible agency cover-up.
Twin Metals proposes using “dry stacking” mine waste storage technique
Company announces change in plans to avoid using traditional, less safe waste storage technique that nearby PolyMet proposal will use. Some environmental groups have promoted dry stacking but questions remain.
EPA releases PolyMet water quality comments, begins internal investigation of possible cover-up
Environmental advocates pressure federal agency to make public the comments it only communicated verbally to state officials.
Federal government renews mineral leases near Boundary Waters wilderness
Trump administration overturns Obama decision and provides Twin Metals with access to publicly-owned minerals located near Ely.
Legislation initiates discussion of stricter laws for storing mine waste
Pair of Minnesota lawmakers propose following Montana’s lead in strengthening rules about the design and oversight of tailings dam, in response to recent catastrophes in other countries.
Lawsuits move forward against both major Minnesota copper mine proposals
Lawyers for environmental groups argued last week that Twin Metals’ mineral leases should never have been renewed, and that PolyMet’s land exchange was a bad deal for the public.
Star Tribune editorial board calls for release of Forest Service mining study
Star Tribune says Trump officials should justify how they decided to cancel an environmental review and reopen the opportunity for a mining proposal near the Boundary Waters to proceed.
Former Minnesota governor calls for reconsideration of PolyMet permits
Arne Carlson and another retired official say new information has come to light that requires a review of how the mine proposal was permitted.
Environmental groups and Ojibwe tribe call for new evaluation of PolyMet mine design after Brazil disaster
Mining opponents say PolyMet proposes a dam to hold its tailings that has direct connections to a deadly disaster this January at the Córrego do Feijão iron ore mine in southeastern Brazil.
Young people invited to apply for Washington, D.C. trip to lobby for Boundary Waters protection
Youth organization that works to protect the Boundary Waters from copper-nickel mining pollution is organizing another event to provide high school and college students the chance to tell policymakers their stories and ask for stewardship.
International body seeks to develop water quality goals for border lakes and rivers
Citizens asked to provide input on process to protect the health of waters in the Quetico-Superior region from a variety of threats.
“The BWCA is at stake” says former supervisor of Superior National Forest
“We must stop the political do-over on the Twin Metals mine. Experience shows that pollution is probable. It may be catastrophic.”