Minnesota Governor Tim Walz declared on Tuesday that the state will not review or process permits for proposed mining projects near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. This decision comes four months after the cessation of a federal ban by Congress and the Trump administration.
The Boundary Waters is a valued wilderness, spanning approximately 150 miles within the Superior National Forest, bordering Canada. Each year, thousands of canoeists, kayakers, and campers explore this unspoiled region. Governor Walz emphasized, “It’s our duty as Minnesotans to ensure the sacred place remains wild, pristine, and unharmed.”
However, Walz’s executive order has a limited duration. According to state law, it will expire by next April, which is 90 days after he leaves office. This means the subsequent governor could potentially implement a similar order.
At present, no mining project is ready to commence. Twin Metals Minnesota LLC, a subsidiary of Chile-based Antofagasta Minerals, has pursued copper, nickel, and other metal mining since 2019. The company claims their operations would avoid storing waste rock above ground, reducing the risk of acid generation. The proximity of the mining site to the canoe area creates concerns about possible pollution.
In April, President Trump enacted a Congressional resolution lifting the 2023 federal moratorium on mining activities in the forest. Trump articulated that this move would generate jobs and boost the mining sector.
Walz’s executive order specifies that Minnesota regulators will abstain from partaking as a cooperating agency in any federal environmental review relating to nonferrous mining in the Rainy River Headwaters Watershed, which is connected to the Boundary Waters. Additionally, while litigation over state mining regulations persists, the state will not conduct environmental assessments or permit evaluations for mining proposals. Walz has also instructed the Department of Natural Resources to develop legislation that would ban nonferrous mining in the Rainy River watershed.
U.S. Representative Pete Stauber, a Republican representing the Boundary Waters region, condemned Walz’s decision, accusing the governor of waging “outright war on Northern Minnesota and our way of life.” Conversely, Becky Rom, chairperson of the advocacy group Save the Boundary Waters, commended Walz’s action. “The science is clear: copper mining and the Boundary Waters cannot safely coexist. This action helps safeguard the clean water, world-class wilderness, and outdoor economy that generations of Minnesotans cherish,” Rom asserted.
Senator Amy Klobuchar, the Democratic candidate for governor, has not commented. Republican candidate Lisa Demuth believes that mining can be conducted safely. “There are critical minerals that everyone depends on daily,” Demuth remarked to the Rochester Post Bulletin. “And they’re going to come from someplace.”
James Coleman, a professor at the University of Minnesota law school, noted that Walz’s order introduces uncertainty to any proposed projects. “If you need federal approval, you probably need state approval,” Coleman stated. “These projects take many years to complete. Partisan politics may flip at the state or federal level, and it can be hard to get a project to the finish line.”
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