US EditionSenate votes to repeal Biden-era wilderness protections in Minnesota, sending bill to Trump’s desk
The resolution would reopen more than 225,000 acres to sulfide-ore mining and could clear the way for Twin Metals, supporters said.
- On Thursday, the U.S. Senate passed House Joint Resolution 140 by a 50-49 margin, overturning a 20-year mining moratorium near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness; the measure now heads to President Donald Trump for his signature.
- Congressional Republicans utilized the Congressional Review Act to overturn the Biden administration's 2023 mineral withdrawal, arguing officials failed to properly notify Congress of the decision protecting more than 225,000 acres in the Superior National Forest.
- Twin Metals Minnesota proponents argue the development will create jobs, though opponents caution that mining could result in significant pollution in the downstream watershed supporting an estimated $16 billion recreation-based economy.
- Democratic Senator Tina Smith of Minnesota criticized the vote, warning it sets "a dangerous precedent that would affect every state in our country" by allowing Congress to override public land protections.
- Despite the resolution's passage, Twin Metals still requires numerous state and federal permits before operations can begin, and environmental groups may challenge future approvals in court, potentially delaying development for years.
64 Articles
64 Articles
Senate Votes to Repeal Biden-Era Mining Ban in Minnesota, Sending Bill to Trump
The U.S. Senate narrowly voted on April 16 to overturn a 20-year mining ban imposed by the former Biden administration on a national forest in northeastern Minnesota. The measure, which passed 50–49 and will now advance to President Donald Trump’s desk, will reverse the previous administration’s mining ban on 225,504 acres in the Superior National Forest and pave the way for Twin Metals, a subsidiary of Chile-based Antofagasta, to carry out mini…
U.S. Senate Disapproves Mining Ban in Boundary Waters - CleanTechnica
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Senate voted to approve a controversial proposal, backed by the Trump Administration, to allow toxic sulfide mining in the watershed of one of the country’s most visited wilderness areas. In a 50-49 vote, Senate Republicans utilized a baseless interpretation of the Congressional Review Act to overturn a ... [continued] The post U.S. Senate Disapproves Mining Ban in Boundary Waters appeared first on CleanTechnica.
Republicans deploy little-known law to open Minnesota wilderness to mining
Minnesota’s Boundary Waters are a vast stretch of wilderness bordering Canada, with over a million acres of untouched forest and thousands of lakes and streams. Accessible largely by canoe, it is an ecological gem and one of the most popular spots in the country for outdoor recreation. On Thursday, Senate Republicans voted 50-49 to open the area up to mining — passing a resolution that repeals a 20-year moratorium using a little-known law called…
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