Minnesota Approves Exploratory Drilling Near Boundary Waters

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has approved a plan for Franconia Minerals, a subsidiary of Twin Metals Minnesota, to conduct exploratory drilling near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW). The approved plan allows the company to drill exploratory boreholes at 19 locations north and south of Birch Lake. This development is significant as Twin Metals aims to establish an underground copper-nickel mine, along with a processing facility and tailings storage facility in proximity to the lake, which connects to the BWCAW via the Kawishiwi River.

In response to the DNR’s decision, advocacy group Friends of the Boundary Waters has expressed strong opposition, raising environmental concerns and urging the agency to reject the exploration proposals. They argue that the DNR has the legal authority to deny such permits based on the potential ecological risks associated with mining activities in the area.

In a letter dated December 29, 2023, Joseph Henderson, director of the DNR’s Division of Land and Minerals, stated that the plans would be approved with additional conditions aimed at protecting the environment. Henderson emphasized the company’s right to explore for minerals on the leased properties, stating that the DNR would implement measures to address the concerns raised by advocacy groups.

Chris Knopf, executive director of Friends of the Boundary Waters, criticized Governor Tim Walz‘s administration for its decision. He described the approval as a missed opportunity for the governor to take a definitive stance against mining interests threatening the wilderness. Knopf highlighted the significant opposition from residents of Minnesota, stating, “Despite having clear legal authority to deny this permit…the Walz administration is holding the door open to this toxic industry.”

The controversy surrounding Twin Metals is not new. Former Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton was a vocal opponent of the company’s operations, previously denying access to state lands for preliminary work on the proposed mine due to concerns over the risks of mining near the BWCAW.

In contrast, Governor Walz has indicated a more cautious approach. While he has voiced concerns about the proposed mine, he suggested that the previous administration’s ban on mining might not hold up in court, thereby opting not to continue it.

Twin Metals, for its part, has defended its exploration activities, asserting that they are fundamental to understanding the mineral deposits in the region. Kathy Graul, a spokesperson for Twin Metals, noted in an email, “Exploration is not the same as mining; it is an exercise in gathering data about the size, scope, geometry, depth, and metal content of our minerals, which lie deep underground.”

The political landscape surrounding this issue has shifted with different administrations. The Biden administration, like its predecessor, has taken steps to limit mining in the area, including canceling two federal mineral leases for Twin Metals and imposing a 20-year mining ban on 225,000 acres of Superior National Forest, which shares a watershed with the BWCAW. These actions were driven by concerns that mining could potentially pollute the pristine wilderness.

With the recent approval for exploratory drilling, the debate over mining’s impact on the Boundary Waters is far from over. The DNR’s decision marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing discussion about balancing economic interests with environmental protection in Minnesota’s cherished wilderness areas.