Governor Walz issues order to block mining near Boundary Waters

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has issued Executive Order 26-10 to prevent nonferrous mineral mining within the Rainy River Headwaters Watershed. The order aims to protect the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, which contains high-quality fisheries and low water pollutant levels.

Under the directive, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) are instructed to halt work on copper-nickel mining proposals. This includes a pause on environmental reviews and permit issuances while a lawsuit regarding state mining rules remains unresolved. The order also prohibits state cooperation with federal environmental reviews for nonferrous mines in the watershed and stops the issuance of new state mineral or surface leases.

Additionally, the order mandates a review of existing state nonferrous mineral leases to ensure strict compliance with current terms. The DNR has also been directed to draft legislation for the Minnesota Legislature to consider in 2027, which would permanently ban nonferrous mining in the watershed. This move follows previous legislative efforts to repeal a federal mineral withdrawal that had previously blocked mining in the area.