Biden administration delivers serious blow to Minnesota mine
The Biden administration dealt a serious blow Wednesday to the proposed Twin Metals copper-nickel mine in northeastern Minnesota, ordering a study that could lead to a 20year ban on mining upstream from the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
The government said it has filed an application for a “mineral withdrawal,” which would begin with a comprehensive study of the likely environmental and other impacts.
The Obama administration tried to kill the project when it launched a similar process in its final weeks, citing the potential threat to the Boundary Waters from acid mine drainage from the underground mine near Ely.
But the Trump administration canceled the previous mineral withdrawal study 20 months into the 24month process.
Twin Metals is owned by the Chilean mining giant Antofagasta.