Minnesota DNR Stops Work on Twin Metals Copper Mine
[Click image to enlarge]
Minnesota regulators have told the company behind the stalled copper-nickel mine project near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness that it’s stopping work on the state’s environmental review and will start archiving the project.
The state Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will “redirect staff resources to other high priority projects,” DNR Commissioner Sara Strommen said in a Feb. 15 letter to Kelly Osborne, chief executive of Twin Metals Minnesota LLC.
The letter mentioned DNR concerns about the location for the large amount of semi-dry processing waste the company proposed stacking in an open-air mound above ground on the marshy site.
The 400-acre spot is about 660 feet from Birch Lake at its nearest point.
The DNR said it determined the location would “pose an unacceptable financial risk to the State … and potentially to the School Trust Fund.”
The land at issue is School Trust property that the state manages for the benefit of K-12 education.
The Biden administration effectively killed the project in January when it decided to cancel two federal mineral leases Twin Metals held for the mine. Twin Metals, owned by copper mining giant Antofagasta in Chile, hasn’t disclosed whether it intends to appeal.
“Twin Metals Minnesota is working to determine the next steps to continue to advance our underground copper, nickel, cobalt and platinum group metals project,” the company said in a statement provided by spokeswoman Kathy Graul.
The $1.7 billion underground mine project, widely condemned for being too close to the Boundary Waters, was in the very early stages of permitting in Minnesota.
Source: Star Tribune
About Twin Metals Minnesota
Twin Metals Minnesota is a Minnesota company focused on designing, constructing and operating an underground copper, nickel, cobalt and platinum group metals mining project in northeast Minnesota. The TMM project brings the promise of significant long-term jobs and environmentally responsible economic development for generations in Minnesota. Twin Metals is owned by Antofagasta plc, one of the top ten copper producers in the world.
To stop by Twin Metals’ website, CLICK HERE
Be in-the-know when you’re on-the-go!
FREE eNews delivery service to your email twice-weekly. With a focus on lead-driven news, our news service will help you develop new business contacts on an on-going basis.
CLICK HERE to register your email address.
