Stay Curious. Stay Connected.
MailNewsletters♡Donate Now
Sign up
*Password must be at least 8 characters and contain one uppercase letter, one lowercase letter, one number and one symbol.
Already have an account?
By submitting, you consent that you are at least 18 years of age and to receive information about MPR's or APMG entities' programs and offerings. The personally identifying information you provide will not be sold, shared, or used for purposes other than to communicate with you about MPR, APMG entities, and its sponsors. You may opt-out at any time clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of any email communication. View our Privacy Policy.
Sign in to your profile
Forgot Password?
New to MPR News?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Reset Password

Enter the username on file and we'll send you a code to reset your password.

Still require assistance or not sure what your User Name is?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Email Verification

A verification code has been emailed to

Still awaiting the code?
Elizabeth Dunbar

Twin Metals releases updated plans for copper-nickel mine near Ely

Twin Metals public listening session
Signs supporting mining and the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness reside next to each other before a Twin Metals lease renewal public listening session.
Derek Montgomery for MPR News

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Log inCreate a free Account

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!

Twin Metals, the company planning to build an underground copper-nickel mine near Ely, Minn., said Thursday it will open an office in Babbitt and wants to locate its processing facility east of Birch Lake.

But supporters, who see the project as a needed economic boost for the struggling Iron Range, have been hopeful after the Trump administration reinstated Twin Metals' mineral rights leases, renewals of which had been denied in the final weeks of the Obama administration.

Twin Metals, a subsidiary of Santiago, Chile-based Antofagasta, said it has been conducting environmental studies for more than seven years in the area, though a formal Environmental Impact Statement process for the mine has not yet begun. The project is not as far along as the nearby PolyMet copper-nickel mine, which has been through the environmental review process and is now seeking permits from the state.

Twin Metals officials said plans to locate the processing site east of Birch Lake differs from previous proposals. Before, the company had planned to build it south of the Ely airport and west of Birch Lake. Company officials said mine employees will access the underground mine from the processing site. The facility would be built on about 100 acres of land owned by Twin Metals.

In addition, officials said opening an office in Babbitt will allow the company to reduce traffic to the mine site, because employees can be shuttled there. They expect the project will create 650 direct jobs.

Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness continues to oppose the project, along with other environmental groups. Executive director Chris Knopf said Thursday the group plans to soon file a lawsuit over the Trump administration's decision to reinstate Twin Metals' mineral leases.

"(The leases) were originally granted over 50 years ago, before modern environmental laws were enacted. We're very concerned that pollution will be a certainty if the Twin Metals mine is operational," Knopf said.

The Associated Press and MPR News reporter Dan Kraker contributed to this report.