Senate passes resolution to lift mining ban near Boundary Waters

The U.S. Senate voted 50-49 on Thursday to lift a federal ban on mining near Minnesota’s Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, advancing a resolution that would allow a Chilean mining company to extract copper, nickel and other precious metals from the region. The measure now goes to President Donald Trump for his signature, with House Republicans having approved it last month.

The resolution advances a Trump administration priority to expand domestic mineral production. Environmental groups and Minnesota Democrats warn that mining would contaminate the wilderness area’s watershed, potentially harming fish, wildlife and plants.

Mining Company and History

Twin Metals Minnesota LLC, a subsidiary of Chile-based Antofagasta Minerals, has sought permission to mine copper, nickel and other precious metals in the Superior National Forest. In a 2019 plan, the company said the operation would create hundreds of union jobs and more than a thousand additional spinoff jobs, with tax revenue for communities in northeastern Minnesota.

The Trump administration renewed Twin Metals’ mineral leases in 2019. The Biden administration terminated those leases in 2022 and imposed a 20-year moratorium on mining across about 400 square miles in the forest, citing the need to protect the watershed. Twin Metals filed a federal lawsuit seeking to overturn the moratorium. A judge dismissed the case in 2023, and an appeal remains pending. The Trump administration last fall reinstated a 2017 legal opinion allowing Twin Metals to renew its leases. Minnesota regulators approved the company’s exploratory plans in December.

Senate Vote and Political Divide

U.S. Rep. Pete Stauber, a Duluth Republican, introduced the resolution in January, saying the moratorium has cost Minnesota jobs and put the country’s mineral security at risk. He remarked on the House floor that it is better to mine in Minnesota than deal with China or Russia for key minerals.

Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith, both Minnesota Democrats, opposed the measure. Klobuchar, who previously supported iron mining, called the Boundary Waters a place of “mist over meadows” and “sunlight on leaves.” Smith rejected the Republican argument for lifting the ban. “You can support mining, but that does not mean you support every mine in every place,” she said.

Environmental Opposition and Company Safeguards

Environmental groups and outdoor enthusiasts oppose lifting the moratorium, warning that mining operations will contaminate the wilderness area’s watershed with mercury and sulfides. They say fish, wildlife and plants will suffer, particularly wild rice that plays a role in Minnesota Chippewa tribal culture. Teddy Roosevelt’s relatives wrote to Republican senators urging them to keep the moratorium, and the Friends of the Boundary Waters organized demonstrations at both Rep. Stauber’s office and the Minnesota State Capitol.

The company counters with environmental commitments. Twin Metals said in its 2019 proposal that the mine would be underground, with no waste rock stored above ground, eliminating a potential source of acid drainage. The area would be revegetated after mining ceased. “With this Project, Minnesota can be a model for modern, sustainable and environmentally and socially responsible mining,” the company stated. Twin Metals also pointed to the need for precious metals in renewable energy technologies, noting that wind turbine construction requires copper and electric vehicles require cobalt and nickel.

Remaining Hurdles

Trump is expected to sign the resolution. However, significant obstacles remain before mining can begin. Twin Metals said construction could take two to three years and would require as many as 18 permits from state officials. If voters elect Klobuchar as Minnesota governor in November, Twin Metals would face an uphill battle securing those permits. Environmental groups plan to challenge any permits in court, which could delay construction for years.