Latest news with #SuperiorNationalForest
CTV News
12-06-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Trump administration moves to lift Biden-era mining restrictions near Boundary Waters in Minnesota
MINNEAPOLIS — President Donald Trump's administration is moving to lift restrictions on copper-nickel mining that the Biden administration imposed near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in northeastern Minnesota. The decision, announced Wednesday by Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, threw a lifeline to the proposed Twin Metals Minnesota mine near Ely. Democratic administrations have tried to kill the project because of what they called the threat of acid mine drainage into Boundary Waters, the country's most-visited federally designated wilderness area. Twin Metals is owned by Chilean mining giant Antofagasta. President Barack Obama's administration declined to renew the company's mineral rights leases in the area in 2016. The first Trump administration reinstated those leases in 2019. President Joe Biden's administration canceled the leases again in 2022 and imposed a 20-year moratorium on mining known as a 'mineral withdrawal' in a 350-square-mile (900-square-kilometer) area of the Superior National Forest upstream from the wilderness that includes the proposed underground mine site. Trump has singled out copper as a focus of his domestic minerals policy and promised during a campaign stop in St. Cloud, Minnesota, last year that he would quickly reverse the moratorium. The Boundary Waters is managed by the U.S. Forest Service, which is part of the Agriculture Department, putting it under Rollins' purview, and the leases are controlled by Burgum's Interior Department. 'After careful review, including extensive public input, the US Forest Service has enough information to know the withdrawal was never needed,' Rollins posted on X. 'We look forward to working with Sec. Burgum to pursue American Energy Dominance and reverse the costly and disastrous policies of the Biden Administration.' Twin Metals spokesperson Kathy Graul praised the Trump administration for beginning the process of reversing the Biden administration's decision, which she said was 'based on a deeply flawed assessment' that failed to consider environmental safeguards the company built into its project design. The company argues that its mine design will prevent acid discharges, and that the best way to determine whether it's safe is by allowing it to undergo a formal environmental review process, which the state canceled in 2022. 'Overturning the mineral withdrawal will allow Minnesota the opportunity to become a global leader in the much-needed domestic production of minerals under some of the most rigorous environment and labor standards in the world,' Graul said in a statement. But critics disputed her claim about public input, pointing out that the Trump administration has not conducted a formal public comment process on the policy reversal. 'The announcement by Secretaries Burgum and Rollins is shocking,' Ingrid Lyons, executive director of Save the Boundary Waters, said in a statement. 'They claim to have consulted with the people of Minnesota about the Boundary Waters when they clearly have not.' Democratic U.S. Sen. Tina Smith of Minnesota scoffed at the secretary's claim about a 'careful review,' saying on X that the administration is 'using pseudoscience to justify bad actions' and predicting that the decision will be challenged in court. 'Not this mine. Not this place. The Boundary Waters are too precious,' Smith said. Republican U.S. Rep. Pete Stauber, who represents northeastern Minnesota and has championed the region's iron and copper-nickel mining industries, said the Biden-era decision was a 'massive wrong' that only 'further cemented our reliance on Communist China' for critical minerals. 'As the demand for critical minerals continues to skyrocket, I look forward to seeing Minnesota's skilled miners safely deliver our vast mineral wealth to the nation using the best labor and environmental standards in the world,' Stauber said in a statement. Twin Metals is separate from two other proposed copper-nickel mines in Minnesota, the NewRange project formerly known as PolyMet, near Hoyt Lakes, which remains stalled by regulatory and court setbacks, and Talon Metals, near McGregor, which the Biden administration supported. Steve Karnowski, The Associated Press
E&E News
11-06-2025
- Business
- E&E News
Mining provision getting yanked from Republican megabill
House Republican leaders on Tuesday moved to ax a mining provision from their tax cut, energy and national security megabill because of procedural concerns. The House-passed bill would reverse Biden-era mining limits in Minnesota's Superior National Forest near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. The legislation would also reinstate leases for a stalled copper and nickel mining project from the company Twin Metals, which were canceled by the Biden administration. Advertisement House Republicans are now moving to scrap the provisions without having to vote again on the 'One Big Beautiful Bill Act' before formally sending it to the Senate.
CBS News
27-05-2025
- General
- CBS News
Minnesota's International Wolf Center to debut 2 wolf pups
Some residents return to rubble as Minnesota wildfire evacuations end, and more headlines Some residents return to rubble as Minnesota wildfire evacuations end, and more headlines Some residents return to rubble as Minnesota wildfire evacuations end, and more headlines The International Wolf Center in Ely, Minnesota, will soon show off its two new wolf pups, and the public's help is needed to name the duo. The pups, both males, were born on April 22, about one year to the day the center lost its ambassador, an 8-year-old Arctic wolf named Axel, to severe kidney failure. The pups arrived in Ely on May 3, and beginning on June 3, the center will begin offering 15-minute viewing opportunities. "We strive to maintain a socially cohesive unit of wolves that act as ambassadors of their species," the center said. "The 2025 pup introduction is a significant investment in our pack's future." IWC Although the pups will make their debut next week, they won't officially join the exhibit pack until August. The center says they wait until pups are about 3 months old and about 30-plus lbs. You also have a chance to help name the pups online, with voting closing on June 6 and the final names revealed on June 9. The center, located in the Superior National Forest, says pup viewing opportunities are included with the cost of admission and will take place outdoors, weather permitting, at 9:45 a.m., 10:45 a.m., 12:45 p.m., 1:45 p.m., 2:45 p.m. and 3:45 p.m. The center is open daily between 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. from late May through mid-October. More information on tickets and the center's pup livestream can be found on its website. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources says as of 2023, there are about 2,700 wild wolves in the state. Minnesota's northeast corner "once sheltered the last remaining wild wolves of the lower 48 states," the DNR says, before the Endangered Species Preservation Act passed in 1966.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Minnesota wildfires: Jenkins Creek now 75% contained, Camp House up to 90%
The Brief Wildfires in northern Minnesota that began weeks ago are becoming more and more contained by crews battling them. Authorities say the Camp House fire is about 90% contained, with a litle more than 12,000 acres burned so far. Meanwhile, the Jenkins Creek fire remains about 75% contained, up from 47% the day before, and just under 16,800 acres. (FOX 9) - Wildfires that have raged for weeks throughout northern Minnesota are becoming more contained by crews working to battle them. Camp House fire The Camp House wildfire started around 1 p.m. on May 11 in Ault Township, about two miles northeast of Brimson, Minnesota. Authorities say that on May 24 the fire remains about 90% contained and is just over 12,000 acres (unchanged since May 22). Firefighters are still utilizing the "full suppression strategy" and add that containment around the fire perimeter appears strong and is "holding well." The Eastern Area Incident Management Team (EAIMT) says this phase is essential for helping the land recover more quickly, especially in areas where bulldozers and other equipment were used to prevent fire growth. What caused the fire EAIMT says the fire initially started on private land and moved into the Superior National Forest. While the report states the cause of the fire is still under investigation, St. Louis County Sheriff Gordon Ramsay previously told FOX 9 the fire appears to have started with a camp fire that was left unattended. He added that the DNR has identified the person who started the fire. What we know The Jenkins Creek Fire started on May 12 near Hoyt Lakes, just north of the Camp House wildfire. The fire was detected east of County Road 110 and north of County Road 16 near Jenkins Creek. Authorities say that on May 24 that the Jenkins Creek fire is about 75% contained, up from 47% the day before, and just under 16,800 acres. EAIMT says that crews have made "steady progress building containment lines" around the fire. Firefighters are now focused on finding gaps in the perimeter to fully contain the blaze. What caused the fire EAIMT saiys the Jenkins Creek fire was caused by human activity, but the investigation is ongoing. The St. Louis County Sheriff previously told FOX 9 the fire might have started with a discarded cigarette along Highway 16, as it began near a roadway. The Source This story uses information shared by the state incident management authorities and past FOX 9 reporting.
The Independent
13-05-2025
- Climate
- The Independent
Minnesota wildfires explode over nearly 20,000 acres as National Guard responds
Three raging wildfires in northern Minnesota have forced evacuations and the deployment of members of the state's National Guard to battle the blazes. The fires continued to expand on Tuesday, fanned by hot, dry, and windy weather conditions. In Brimson, the largest of the three wildfires, known as the Camp House fire, rapidly ballooned to 11,778 acres. The fire, which started on Sunday, has destroyed more than 40 structures and led dozens of people to evacuate. There were 80 people working to respond to the incident, and several road closures implemented. The 'fire has been very active the last two days, with the burning period going into the night,' the Minnesota Incident Command System wrote in a Facebook post on Tuesday. In the nearby Superior National Forest, the Jenkins Creek Fire had spread over 6,800 acres, quadrupling in size after erupting Monday morning. 'The fire moved quickly, driven by strong southerly winds,' according to officials. Southwest of the two wildfires, the Munger Shaw fire tore over more than 1,400 acres, according to the wildfire-tracking app Watch Duty. More evacuations were reported in that area, according to the national forest. The causes of all of the fires remain under investigation. Not one of the fires is contained. On Monday, Democratic Governor Tim Walz, former Vice President Kamala Harris' 2024 running mate, said he had authorized the National Guard to assist in the response. "Wildfires in northern Minnesota have forced families to evacuate and caused severe damage to and loss of property. My thoughts are with those Minnesotans who are being impacted by this dangerous and unpredictable fire," said Walz. As the fight continues, an air quality alert issued due to the spread of wildfire smoke has been extended through Wednesday. 'Air quality is expected to reach the orange AQI level, which is unhealthy for sensitive groups,' the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency warned. Similar alerts were issued at around the same time last year due to wildfire smoke coming from Canada. Walz and the state's forestry officials told residents to be extra careful about anything that could cause heat or sparks. Burn restrictions were in place. Red flag warnings have been issued for 65 counties, and any wildfire that starts in this weather is expected to explode. Climate change is making wildfire-prone conditions more frequent. The governor said that while Minnesota typically sees more than 1,100 wildfires a year, 970 have already occurred this year. Of those, 40 were on Sunday and Monday, according to WCCO News. "I've worked for DNR (Department of Natural Resources) Forestry for nearly 30 years, and the weather the last few days is just really unprecedented," Patty Thielen, director of forestry for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, told the station. "Really low humidity, high winds have allowed fires to spread really quickly."
