Boundary Waters Mining Blocked by Governor | Minneapolis News

0:00It's September 12th. You're listening to Minneapolis News today, AI-powered local news. I'm Cory with the story. So Governor Walls and Minnesota just signed an executive order. This move is all about putting a stop to any new non-fairs mining projects that could impact the boundary waters. It's a big deal because it comes right after Congress decided to remove some federal protections for that area. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has also stepped in and canceled a mineral lease that was held by a company called Twin Metals. This whole situation has been a hot topic, with a lot of back and forth about whether mining should happen so close to the boundary waters canoe area. Wilderness. Twin Metals has been working on this for over 16 years, investing a ton of resources into exploring the minerals. They're saying that even though this one lease is canceled, they still hold other state, private, and mineral rights in the region. They believe a mine there would bring significant economic benefits. The canceled lease was on school trust lands, which are specifically set aside to fund K-12

1:03schools across the state. Twin Metals feels this decision could hurt potential revenue for those schools in the long run. The cancellation is set to take effect on November 10th. This whole debate has been pretty intense, with national attention. Governor Walls' order essentially blocks new permits, adding another layer to the ongoing discussions of our resource development versus environmental. Protection in this sensitive area.