State plans to auction off more leases for mining are drawing protest. A group of more than 140 citizens from northeastern Minnesota planned to file a petition yesterday asking the Department of Natural Resources to prepare an environmental assessment before auctioning off new mining leases.
The DNR plans to offer a total of 64,000 acres of leases for auction near Hoyt Lakes and just a couple of miles from Tettegouche State Park. The leases will be open for bidding on October 24.
The petition cites the effects of mining on trout streams, drinking wells, recreational trails and property values as reason for an environmental assessment. Read the full Associated Press article on the Star Tribune HERE.