A few weeks after Gov. Tim Walz signed an executive order halting nonferrous mineral leases near watersheds connected to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources issued a public notice canceling a Twin Metals mineral lease.
One mining lease canceled
On September 11, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) issued a formal, public notice canceling one of Twin Metals’ mining leases (MM-9455-N). In their statement, published by WDIO, they said, “The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has notified Franconia Minerals (US) LLC., a wholly owned subsidiary of Twin Metals Minnesota, that DNR is exercising its authority to cancel one state mineral lease held by the company. Termination of the lease becomes effective on November 10, 2026.
The decision follows nearly a year of review and is based on a determination that the company has not met the performance and production requirements of the lease. The canceled lease is not located within the area that Twin Metals has previously sought to mine.”
This response comes about a month after Gov. Walz issued Executive Order 26-10, which protects the Rainy River Headwaters Watershed, including the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW), from nonferrous mineral mining activities. The order directs the DNR and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency to halt permitting and environmental review for nonferrous mineral mining in the watershed, including copper and nickel. It also prohibits the DNR from issuing new leases or permits for nonferrous mining projects in the watershed and requires the agency to review existing leases.
Fight over copper-nickel sulfide ore
For over a decade, Twin Metals, a subsidiary of Chilean company Antofagasta, has pushed to revive mineral leases for proposed copper-nickel mining. Their project would include building a mine complex that would extract nonferrous material alongside Birch Lake, near the BWCAW.
Then, in 2023, the Biden administration issued a public land order. It blocked mineral and geothermal leases on 225,504 acres within the Superior National Forest, which includes the wilderness area. Since then, the issue has been hotly contested at state and federal levels. In April, Trump signed H.J. Res. 140 into law, reversing the 2023 land order, which removed protections for watersheds that flow into the BWCAW. This move opened the area to possible mining activities.
Environmentalists praise Walz’s actions and the latest move to cancel a lease. In a social media post, Friends of the Boundary Waters stated, “This is a HUGE win for the Boundary Waters and for clean water in Minnesota. Minnesota is drawing a line against a toxic copper-sulfide mine on the edge of the Boundary Waters.” They added, “This is an important first step, and it sets a precedent for canceling Twin Metals’ remaining state mineral leases in the years ahead. There’s still work to do, but we’ll keep pushing to protect the Boundary Waters from this polluting industry.”
Twin Metals expressed disappointment. In a statement to WDIO they said, “Twin Metals Minnesota is disappointed by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources’ decision to cancel one of our long-held state mineral leases. We have invested considerable resources into exploring the minerals associated with this site. The canceled lease is also located on School Trust Lands, which are established in the Minnesota Constitution to fund every K-12 school district in the state and are intended to maximize revenue generation over the long term. If developed in the future, this lease would contribute significant revenue for the fund. Twin Metals has invested more than 16 years in extensive exploration, geological, environmental, hydrological and engineering work, doing so in strict accordance with all applicable state and federal regulations. We remain committed to advancing a sustainable underground mining project that will bring vital economic opportunities to northeastern Minnesota.”
Mining protections for the nearly two-million-acre Rainy River Watershed are in place for now. However, a new state administration could overturn Walz’s order.
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More info:
- Minnesota DNR cancels one of Twin Metals’ state mineral leases – WDIO
- Governor Walz Takes Executive Action to Ban Nonferrous Mining in the Boundary Waters – Office of Governor Tim Walz & Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan
- Rainy River – Headwaters – Minnesota Pollution Control Agency