Walz halts state action on mine near Boundary Waters, but federal process stays on track

Gov. Tim Walz’s decision to use his authority to halt all state permitting of a proposed Twin Metals copper-nickel mine in the Boundary Waters will not stop the federal government from considering new permits for the project.

That’s because the proposed mine site is on federal land in Superior National Forest and Congress in April lifted a federal moratorium on any sulfide mining in that area.

So, Twin Metals can pursue a restoration of federal leases that were cancelled by the Biden administration, and if they are obtained, the federal government can move forward with its environmental review of the project.

“The state government cannot prevent the federal government from issuing leases and conducting an environmental review,” said Becky Rom, the national chair of Save the Boundary Waters. “And you might see these leases issued without consideration of science.”

Yet, the plan Twin Metals has to mi...