Minnesota Governor Halts State Involvement in Boundary Waters Mining Projects

On Tuesday, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz signed an order that pauses all state activities related to proposed copper and nickel mining in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. The order directs Minnesota regulators to refuse participation as a cooperating agency in any federal environmental assessment of non-ferrous projects within the Rainy River watershed and to halt state permitting while lawsuits over mining regulations proceed.

The decision comes four months after Congress and the Trump administration removed a federal ban that had been in place since 2023. Twin Metals Minnesota LLC, owned by Chilean Antofagasta Minerals, has been seeking approval for a mine downstream of the wilderness, raising concerns about potential water contamination. Conservation group Save the Boundary Waters welcomed the move, citing scientific evidence that mining cannot coexist safely with the pristine watershed, whereas Republican U.S. Rep. Pete Stauber accused Walz of waging a “war on Northern Minnesota.” Walz, who is not running for re-election, framed the action as a duty to keep the area wild and unspoiled.