Environment & Energy
Related: About this forumTrump administration opens up Minnesota wilderness area to copper mining
Source: Reuters
ENVIRONMENT MAY 15, 2019 / 1:40 PM / UPDATED 3 HOURS AGO
Trump administration opens up Minnesota wilderness area to copper mining
Valerie Volcovici
3 MIN READ
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Interior Department on Wednesday renewed two mineral leases near the Boundary Waters Wilderness area in Minnesota, a key step in opening the popular wilderness and recreation area up to copper mining despite heavy opposition from local and national conservation groups.
The departments Bureau of Land Management granted the hardrock mineral leases inside the Superior National Forest to Twin Metals Minnesota LLC, a subsidiary of Chiles Antofagasta, with the aim of expanding domestic mining of critical minerals used in common appliances and products, saying it is beneficial to national security because it reduces foreign imports.
Mining strategic metals in the United States is beneficial to national security, national and local economies, and job creation, the Interior Departments assistant secretary Joe Balash said in a statement.
Twin Metals must now submit a formal mine plan of operation to the BLM, which will then analyze its potential environmental impacts.
The announcement riled conservation groups, who said the Trump administration conducted an insufficient environmental review process leading up to its approval.
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Read more: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-interior-copper/trump-administration-opens-up-minnesota-wilderness-area-to-copper-mining-idUSKCN1SL2C5
in2herbs
(2,942 posts)I am shocked! Trump is such a fair and environmental president. ITMF now.
Wellstone ruled
(34,661 posts)Good Luck with that one. So we start dumping the Toxic waste into Lake Superior once again. Never forget the days of MinTac and their secret dumping.
lunasun
(21,646 posts)More than 1,300 miles of cold water streams and 950 miles of warm water streams flow within the boundaries of the Superior.
https://images.app.goo.gl/m6RSnd9RZDfwKGGk8
I donated and signed a petition last fall to try to stop this but sad news
https://www.savetheboundarywaters.org
More info at that link
It said in Reuters link that most of the comments received by BLM were against the mining
Also backs a reservation at the border . Indigenous impacted again would be no surprise