Trump election could reopen path for mining near Boundary Waters
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It’s been like a high-stakes ping-pong match over the past several Presidential administrations when it comes to the prospect of mining near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area.
Former President Barack Obama first initiated a mining moratorium on federal land near the wilderness at the end of his second term in 2016. But President Donald Trump reversed that decision in his first term. Trump also returned mineral leases to Twin Metals Minnesota, the company vying to open an underground mine near Ely.
President Joe Biden rescinded those leases. His administration also imposed a 20-year mining ban on about 225,000 acres of the Superior National Forest south of the Boundary Waters.
The President-elect revealed his next move a couple of months ago. Speaking at a rally in St. Cloud, flanked by Republican 8th District Congressman Pete Stauber, Trump promised to undo Biden’s actions if he was elected.
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“We will end that ban in about— what do you think, about 10 minutes? I would say 10 to 15 minutes. Right, Pete?”
“I pledge to Minnesota miners that when I'm reelected, I will reverse the Biden-Harris attack on your way of life, and we will turn the Iron Range into a mineral powerhouse like never before,” Trump continued.
Trump could undo the ban administratively. Or, Congress could reverse it. Stauber, who represents northeastern Minnesota, has introduced a bill to not only revoke the ban, but also return the mineral leases to Twin Metals.
Stauber declined an interview for this story, but in a statement his spokesperson, Kelsey Emmer, said Stauber “believes President Trump will deliver on his promise to make our state and nation a critical mineral powerhouse. He looks forward to working with President Trump to fully unleash our vast mineral wealth.”
Stauber’s bill cleared the U.S. House of Representatives this year. But it didn’t make it through the Senate, which had a slim Democratic majority.
Now the political dynamics have changed. Republicans have regained the Senate, and are poised to maintain control of the House.
That could clear the way for the passage of Stauber’s bill, which also contains a provision to prevent environmental groups and others from suing to block the return of the leases to Twin Metals.
“This legislation purports to take this out of judicial review,” said Chris Knopf, director of Friends of the Boundary Waters, during a recent webinar with members about the implications of Trump’s victory.
“This is radical legislation where it takes out that third branch of government.”
Bitter divide
The prospect of a copper-nickel mine on the doorstep of the Boundary Waters has bitterly divided the state.
Business and labor groups want the high paying jobs and economic impact of a nearly $2 billion project. Environmental groups warn of possible catastrophic water pollution in the state’s most beloved wilderness.
“The game’s on, you know. And if people care about this stuff, they need to fight for it,” said Aaron Klemz, chief strategy officer for the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy.
“Last time I think folks were taken by surprise by the Trump election, and weren’t really prepared for it,” Klemz said. “And I think this time people are much more prepared.”
Project 2025, a policy platform drafted by a group of conservative organizations in preparation for a possible second Trump administration, mentions Minnesota only twice.
“And both are in reference to overturning the 20-year mineral withdrawal,” said Ingrid Lyons, director of the Save the Boundary Waters campaign.
But even if the mining moratorium is lifted, Twin Metals and other mining companies would still need to secure state approval before their projects could move forward, a complicated and timely process that typically lasts several years.
Five years ago, the Minnesota DNR opted to conduct its own environmental review when Twin Metals submitted its first mining proposal, rather than opting for a joint state-federal review, which is what occurred for the proposed PolyMet project, now known as NewRange Copper Nickel.
The state also must approve several major permits before a project could move forward, including a permit to mine, and air and water quality permits.
“The state will play a significant role in serving not only as a backstop, but decisions can be made on the acceptability of this location for this type of mining within the state as well,” said Lyons.
For example, in suspending the state’s environmental review of Twin Metals in 2022, the Minnesota DNR questioned the appropriateness of locating the mine’s waste tailings basin on state land.
In a statement, Twin Metals spokesperson Kathy Graul said the company is “committed to advancing our project in a bipartisan manner to ensure Americans can benefit from the much-needed copper, nickel and cobalt resources that are abundant in northeast Minnesota.”
Twin Metals and other mining companies say they aren’t asking for quick approval of their projects in northern Minnesota.
“Folks want to have the conversation, and we want to see the process move forward,” said Julie Lucas, executive director of the industry group Mining Minnesota. “Twin Metals was going through the process, and it stopped abruptly.”
Mining advocates say modern engineering methods can prevent the kind of catastrophic water pollution that has plagued hard rock mining in the past. She said the environmental review and permitting process is the place to vet mining plans.
And they point out that the copper, nickel, cobalt and other minerals Twin Metals would extract from deep underground are in high demand, especially for clean energy technologies such as electric vehicles.
“The reality is that deposit is very significant. It’s a lot larger than people realize,” Lucas said.
The mining industry is working for bipartisan support, Lucas said. Companies don’t want the policy back and forth whiplash that’s occurred between recent presidential administrations.
“Using these products is bipartisan. The supply chain should be bipartisan. Mining shouldn’t be a partisan issue,” Lucas said.
But opponents of mining say public polling shows broad based support for protection of the Boundary Waters from proposed mines.
And even in a hyper-partisan environment, they’re buoyed by the results of last week’s election, where more than three-quarters of Minnesota voters elected to renew lottery funding for environmental and natural resource protection around the state.
“Minnesotans have never stepped away from their desire to see clean water and outdoor recreation opportunities,” said Klemz.