Minnesota governor signs order to slow down any mining efforts in Boundary Waters wilderness

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz on Tuesday said the state would not review or process permits on proposed mining projects in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, four months after Congress and President Donald Trump's administration lifted a federal ban.

The cherished wild area stretches for about 150 miles (about 240 kilometers) in the Superior National Forest along Minnesota’s border with Canada. Thousands of canoeists, kayakers and campers explore the wilderness each year.

"It’s our duty as Minnesotans to ensure the sacred place remains wild, pristine and unharmed," Walz, a Democrat, said.

But Walz's executive order apparently won't last long: Under state law, it would expire by next April, 90 days after he leaves office. The next governor could adopt it.

And there's no shovel-ready project, though Twin Metals Minnesota LLC, a subsidiary of Chile-based Antofagasta Minerals, has been seeking to mine for copper, nickel and other precious metals in the national forest since 2019. It insists it can be done so no waste rock is stored above ground, eliminating a potential source of acid.

The canoe area lies within the national forest just downstream from the mine site, raising concerns that digging could cause pollution.

In April, Trump signed a resolution approved by Congress that lifts a 2023 federal moratorium on mining in the forest. He said it would create jobs and boost the mining industry.

Walz’s order says Minnesota regulators will not participate as a cooperating agency in any federal environmental review of nonferrous mining in the Rainy River watershed, which is linked to Boundary Waters.

The state also will not conduct environmental reviews or permitting work on mining proposals while litigation over state mining regulations is ongoing, the order says.

Walz also wants the Department of Natural Resources to draft legislation prohibiting nonferrous mining in the Rainy River watershed.

U.S. Rep. Pete Stauber criticized Walz, accusing him of “outright war on Northern Minnesota and our way of life.”

“Years of rigorous review, environmental study, and massive private investment have been erased in seconds by a deeply unpopular Governor,” Stauber, a Republican, said in a written statement.

Becky Rom, chairperson of the advocacy group Save the Boundary Waters, praised the governor, who did not seek reelection this year.

“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 said.

James Coleman, a professor at the University of Minnesota law school, said Walz's order, at a minimum, adds uncertainty to any proposed project.

“If you need federal approval, you probably need state approval,” Coleman said. “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.”