The Biden administration imposed a 20-year ban on new mineral development on 225,000 acres of national forest land adjacent to Minnesota’s scenic Canoe Area Watershed.
The order, signed by Interior Secretary Deb Haaland on Thursday morning, dealt a potentially fatal blow to Chilean mining giant Antofagasta’s plans for a $1.7 billion underground copper-nickel mine on the doorstep of the 1.09 million hectare Boundary Waters – one of the most visited deserts. region in the country.
Biden administration officials told reporters during Thursday’s briefing that the withdrawal addresses public concerns that mining in the region could damage a network of federally protected rivers, lakes and streams, and harm a thriving tourism industry.
“Protecting places like the Boundary Waters is key to supporting health
The watershed and surrounding wildlife, supporting Tribal trust and treaty responsibilities, and improving the local recreational economy,” Haaland said in a statement. “With an eye to protecting this special place for future generations, I have made this decision using the best science available and extensive public input.”
The decision follows a 15-month study on the potential impact on natural and cultural resources, during which no new mining activities will be allowed. The US Forest Service submitted an application to the interior department last year asking for a 20-year mining ban.
No mineral leases were affected by Thursday’s order. The Biden administration previously canceled a pair of mineral leases held by Minnesota’s Twin Metals dating back to the 1960s, concluding that the Trump administration violated its legal obligations when it renewed the leases in 2019.
Twin Metals is a subsidiary of Antofagasta. The Trump family has ties to Andrónico Luksic, the Chilean billionaire behind the mine.
The process of extracting sulphide minerals like copper and nickel by Twin Metals can trigger the release of toxic sulfuric acid that can persist indefinitely. Twin Metals has maintained that its design and “unique geology” will prevent such acid mine drainage from occurring.
The Interior Department said the decision was informed by more than 200,000 public comments and consultation with area tribes. Agency officials stressed during a briefing Thursday that the Boundary Waters are “irreplaceable” and that the risks from upstream mineral development are “simply very high.”
“The Biden-Harris administration has been clear in our commitment to ensure that this country can mine the minerals it needs to move to a clean energy economy,” the official said. “But we have to do it responsibly, and that includes balancing our commitment to making sure we’re protecting some of our country’s best outdoor spaces for future generations. The Boundary Waters and surrounding watersheds are one place.”