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| U.S. Blocks Mine Planned Near Boundary Waters in Minnesota | U.S. Blocks Mine Planned Near Boundary Waters in Minnesota |
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| The Obama administration on Thursday blocked development of a copper and nickel mine near a popular wilderness area in northern Minnesota, saying the project could poison the vast web of lakes, streams and wetlands that crosshatch the region. | The Obama administration on Thursday blocked development of a copper and nickel mine near a popular wilderness area in northern Minnesota, saying the project could poison the vast web of lakes, streams and wetlands that crosshatch the region. |
| Acting with just five weeks left in the administration, federal agencies refused to renew leases held by a mining company just outside — and upstream from — the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, along the Canadian border. Officials also took steps that could lead to a much larger area being put off limits to mining. | Acting with just five weeks left in the administration, federal agencies refused to renew leases held by a mining company just outside — and upstream from — the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, along the Canadian border. Officials also took steps that could lead to a much larger area being put off limits to mining. |
| The action is likely to be contested by the company, Twin Metals Minnesota, a subsidiary of Antofagasta of Chile, one of the world’s largest mining firms. Twin Metals, which has said it planned to invest more than $5 billion in building the mine, has argued that it has a right to the lease renewal. | The action is likely to be contested by the company, Twin Metals Minnesota, a subsidiary of Antofagasta of Chile, one of the world’s largest mining firms. Twin Metals, which has said it planned to invest more than $5 billion in building the mine, has argued that it has a right to the lease renewal. |
| It was not clear whether the incoming Trump administration, which has vowed to eliminate regulations that hinder economic development, would try to reverse the decision. | It was not clear whether the incoming Trump administration, which has vowed to eliminate regulations that hinder economic development, would try to reverse the decision. |
| The company says the project will offer an important economic lift for the region, providing thousands of jobs during construction, and hundreds, at least, once the mine is operating. Environmentalists say pollution from the mine could imperil not only a pristine wilderness but also tens of millions of dollars a year in tourism revenue. | |
| Conservationists and Native Americans regard the 1.09-million-acre Boundary Waters, part of the Superior National Forest, as a unique treasure teeming with wildlife, a patchwork of old-growth forest and waterways, including more than 1,000 lakes carved by retreating glaciers. Like the Everglades, the Boundary Waters and the adjacent Quetico Provincial Park in Ontario are sometimes called an unusually complex, broad and slow-moving river system. | Conservationists and Native Americans regard the 1.09-million-acre Boundary Waters, part of the Superior National Forest, as a unique treasure teeming with wildlife, a patchwork of old-growth forest and waterways, including more than 1,000 lakes carved by retreating glaciers. Like the Everglades, the Boundary Waters and the adjacent Quetico Provincial Park in Ontario are sometimes called an unusually complex, broad and slow-moving river system. |
| Most of the Boundary Waters area has no roads, and motor craft are prohibited on many of its waters, so travel is done by foot and canoe. It attracts about 150,000 visitors a year. | Most of the Boundary Waters area has no roads, and motor craft are prohibited on many of its waters, so travel is done by foot and canoe. It attracts about 150,000 visitors a year. |
| In 1966, the government granted two mineral leases, covering less than 5,000 acres in the national forest near the town of Ely, just outside the Boundary Waters. The leaseholders, later acquired by Twin Metals, did not develop a mine, and the government agreed several times to renew the lease. The company grew serious about pursuing the project, but the most recent lease expired in 2014, and the Obama administration delayed renewal for more study. | In 1966, the government granted two mineral leases, covering less than 5,000 acres in the national forest near the town of Ely, just outside the Boundary Waters. The leaseholders, later acquired by Twin Metals, did not develop a mine, and the government agreed several times to renew the lease. The company grew serious about pursuing the project, but the most recent lease expired in 2014, and the Obama administration delayed renewal for more study. |
| On Thursday, the government informed Twin Metals that the Forest Service opposed the leases, and so the Bureau of Land Management, which controls mineral rights, was refusing to renew them. | On Thursday, the government informed Twin Metals that the Forest Service opposed the leases, and so the Bureau of Land Management, which controls mineral rights, was refusing to renew them. |
| In addition, the Forest Service asked the Bureau of Land Management to ban mining for up to 20 years on 234,000 acres of the national forest, including the land that was covered by the leases. The bureau said it would block any mineral extraction for the next two years, while studying whether to impose a longer ban. | In addition, the Forest Service asked the Bureau of Land Management to ban mining for up to 20 years on 234,000 acres of the national forest, including the land that was covered by the leases. The bureau said it would block any mineral extraction for the next two years, while studying whether to impose a longer ban. |
| “There’s a reason that the Boundary Waters is one of the most-visited wilderness area in America: it’s an incredible place,” Interior Secretary Sally Jewell said in a statement. “This is the right action to take to avoid irrevocably damaging this watershed and its recreation-based economy.” | “There’s a reason that the Boundary Waters is one of the most-visited wilderness area in America: it’s an incredible place,” Interior Secretary Sally Jewell said in a statement. “This is the right action to take to avoid irrevocably damaging this watershed and its recreation-based economy.” |
| Northeastern Minnesota has long had iron mining, but only recently has there been a push to extract sulfide ore that contains copper, nickel and small amounts of gold, platinum and silver. | Northeastern Minnesota has long had iron mining, but only recently has there been a push to extract sulfide ore that contains copper, nickel and small amounts of gold, platinum and silver. |
| Environmentalists say that water collecting in such mines would produce acidic drainage into groundwater and streams, and a risk of accidental release of toxic wastes. They point to mine accidents like one in 2014 in British Columbia, and another in 2015 in Colorado that contaminated rivers and soils. | Environmentalists say that water collecting in such mines would produce acidic drainage into groundwater and streams, and a risk of accidental release of toxic wastes. They point to mine accidents like one in 2014 in British Columbia, and another in 2015 in Colorado that contaminated rivers and soils. |
| Twin Metals has said its tests show that acidic drainage from its mine is unlikely. | Twin Metals has said its tests show that acidic drainage from its mine is unlikely. |