It’s been like a high-stakes game of ping-pong over the past few presidential administrations when it comes to the prospect of mining near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area.

Former President Obama first issued a mining moratorium on federal lands near wilderness areas at the end of his second term in 2016. But President Trump reversed that decision during his first term. He also returned mining leases to Twin Metals Minnesota, the company seeking to open an underground mine near Ely, Minnesota.

Then President Biden terminated those leases. His administration also imposed a 20-year mining ban on about 225,000 acres of the Superior National Forest south of Boundary Waters.

The president-elect revealed his next move a few months ago. Speaking at a rally in St. Cloud, alongside 8th District Republican Congressman Pete Stauber, Trump promised to reverse Biden’s actions if elected.

“We will end this ban in about…what do you think, about 10 minutes?” I would say 10 to 15 minutes. Right, Pete?

“I promise Minnesota miners that when I am re-elected, I will reverse the Biden-Harris attack on your way of life, and we will transform the Iron Range into a mining powerhouse like never before,” Trump continued.

Trump could overturn the ban administratively. Or, Congress could reverse this decision. Stauber, who represents northeastern Minnesota, introduced a bill to not only revoke the ban but also return mining leases to Twin Metals.

Stauber declined an interview for this story, but in a statement, his spokeswoman, Kelsey Emmer, said Stauber “believes President Trump will deliver on his promise to make our state and nation a critical mining power.” He looks forward to working with President Trump to fully unlock our vast mineral wealth.

Stauber’s bill was approved by the U.S. House of Representatives this year. But it was not adopted by the Senate, which had a slim Democratic majority.

Today, the political dynamic has changed. Republicans have won back the Senate and are poised to retain control of the House.

That could pave the way for passage of Stauber’s bill, which also contains a provision preventing environmental groups and others from suing to block the return of leases to Twin Metals.

“This legislation purports to shield this from judicial review,” Chris Knopf, director of Friends of the Boundary Waters, said during a recent webinar with members about the implications of Trump’s victory.

“This is sweeping legislation that removes this third branch of government. »

Bitter division

The prospect of a copper-nickel mine on the outskirts of Boundary Waters bitterly divides the state.

Businesses and unions want to benefit from good-paying jobs and the economic impact of a nearly $2 billion project. Environmental groups are warning of possible catastrophic water pollution in the state’s most beloved wilderness.

“The game is on, you know. And if people care about these things, they need to fight for them,” said Aaron Klemz, director of strategy for the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy.

“Last time, I think people were surprised by Trump’s election and weren’t really prepared for it,” Klemz said. “And I think this time people are much more prepared.”

The 2025 Project, a policy platform drafted by a group of conservative organizations in preparation for a possible second Trump administration, mentions Minnesota only twice.

“And both refer to reversing the 20-year mineral withdrawal,” said Ingrid Lyons, director of the Save the Boundary Waters campaign.

But even if the mining moratorium is lifted, Twin Metals and other mining companies will still need to obtain state approval before their projects can move forward, a complex and rapid process that typically takes several years.

Five years ago, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources chose to conduct its own environmental assessment when Twin Metals submitted its first mining proposal, rather than opting for a joint state-federal assessment, which which occurred for the proposed PolyMet project, now known as NewRange Copper Nickel. .

The state must also approve several major permits before a project can move forward, including a mining permit and air and water quality permits.

“The state will play an important role in serving not only as a safety net, but decisions can also be made on the acceptability of that location for this type of mining within the state,” Lyons said.

For example, in suspending the state’s environmental review of Twin Metals in 2022, the Minnesota DNR questioned the appropriateness of locating the mine’s tailings pond on state land.

In a statement, Twin Metals spokeswoman Kathy Graul said the company “is committed to advancing our project in a bipartisan manner to ensure that Americans can benefit from the much-needed copper, nickel and cobalt resources that are abundant in northeastern Minnesota.

Twin Metals and other mining companies say they are not seeking early approval for their projects in northern Minnesota.

“People want to have the conversation and we want to see the process move forward,” said Julie Lucas, executive director of the industry group Mining Minnesota. “Twin Metals was going through this process, and it stopped abruptly.”

Mining advocates say modern engineering methods can prevent the type of catastrophic water pollution that has plagued hard-rock mining in the past. She said the environmental review and permitting process is the ideal place to review mining projects.

And they point out that the copper, nickel, cobalt and other minerals that Twin Metals would extract from deep underground are in high demand, especially for clean energy technologies such as electric vehicles.

“The reality is that this deposit is very important. It’s a lot bigger than people think,” Lucas said.

The mining industry is working for bipartisan support, Lucas said. Businesses don’t want the political back-and-forth that has occurred between recent presidential administrations.

“The use of these products is bipartisan. The supply chain should be bipartisan. Mining should not be a partisan issue,” Lucas said.

But opponents of mining say public polling shows broad support for protecting the boundary waters from proposed mines.

And even in a hyper-partisan environment, they are buoyed by last week’s election results, where more than three-quarters of Minnesota voters chose to renew lottery funding for environmental and natural resource protection throughout the state.

“Minnesotans have never given up their desire to see clean water and outdoor recreation opportunities,” Klemz said.