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On Wednesday, January 26, 2022, the Biden Administration announced it was canceling two federal mining leases held by Twin Metals, a company seeking to develop a sulfide-ore copper mine within the watershed of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
The announcement came from the Department of Interior (DOI), who said the Trump administration did not lawfully reinstate the expired Twin Metals leases. The DOI noted the reinstatement violated federal laws and regulations and the provision that called for U.S. Forest Service consent to allow a company to have a mineral lease on federal land.
Twin Metals LLC, a joint venture between Chilean Antofagasta PLC and Canadian Duluth Metals Ltd, has proposed building a $1.7 billion underground mine near Birch Lake, 15 miles southeast of Ely near Birch Lake.
Twin Metals Minnesota (TMM) hopes to mine copper, nickel, platinum, palladium, gold and silver.
Following the announcement by the Biden administration Twin Metals came back with a quick response posted on its Facebook page.
“The federal government’s reversal of its position on the mineral leases that Twin Metals Minnesota and its predecessor companies have held for more than 50 years is disappointing, but not surprising given the series of actions the administration has taken to try and shut the door on copper nickel mining in northeast Minnesota. We will challenge this attempt to stop our project and defend our valid existing mineral rights. We expect to prevail.
“This is not about law; this is a political action intended to stop the Twin Metals project without conducting the environmental review prescribed in law. We have proposed a world-class underground copper, nickel, cobalt and platinum group metals mine that deserves to be evaluated through the established environmental review process. Our proposal, submitted more than two years ago to state and federal agencies, was the culmination of more than a decade of engineering, hydrogeological, environmental and engagement work that maximizes environmental protection. We are confident that a full environmental review will show that the science behind this modern mine will prove that we can advance this project safely under the highest of standards.
“Twin Metals’ mineral leases were first issued in 1966 and have been held in good standing spanning 11 presidential administrations. We remain steadfast in defending those rights and advancing our model mining project.
“Our commitment to the communities of northeast Minnesota and to advancing a sustainable mining project has not waivered. We are firmly dedicated to bringing much-needed economic growth to our region and the opportunity to responsibly develop the critical minerals needed for our global efforts in combatting the climate crisis.”
The Obama administration terminated the leases in 2016 after years of study and significant public comment. The U.S. Forest Service concluded that copper mining under the umbrella of those leases posed an unacceptable risk of irreparable damage to the Boundary Waters and surrounding Superior National Forest lands and waters.
In January of 2018, the Trump administration halted an environmental impact study for the Twin Metals mine, calling for a less stringent review called an environmental assessment.
Questioning the Trump administration’s decision to halt an environmental impact study, a lawsuit was filed June 21, 2018, with Sawbill Outfitters and Hungry Jack Outfitters joining seven other northern Minnesota businesses
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