Tim Walz Blocks Boundary Waters Mine

The key to saving Minnesota’s Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness? Pushing construction of the copper sulfide mine Chilean billionaires are trying to build at its headwaters into a time when Democrats control both houses of Congress or the White House. And Governor Tim Walz may have just achieved that with an executive order.

“It’s our duty as Minnesotans to ensure the sacred place remains wild, pristine, and unharmed,” stated Walz, announcing the order.

In April, Republicans in Congress pushed through an unprecedented use of the Congressional Review Act to disapprove of a Biden-era prohibition on construction of the mine.

While the project is located on National Forest land outside the Wilderness area—the nation’s most popular—the copper sulfide ore it will haul out of the ground will, once exposed to air and water, create sulfuric acid, which will then flow into the Boundary Waters through the Rainy River. No technology exists that’s capable of preventing this from happening. Once there, the acid will remain for centuries, and will kill off the area’s famously abundant fish populations, then the rest of the currently-intact ecosystem. That acid will then flow north into Canada’s Voyageurs National Park, where it will cause similar harm.

All of that is being done to benefit the richest family in South America, and China’s AI buildout. They’ve already inked a contract to send copper produced in Minnesota to China, and Antofagasta, the parent company of the mine’s operator, has already stated it intends to import the mine’s labor from elsewhere. So there’s only downsides for Minnesota’s economy here, since destruction of the Boundary Waters will also destroy the 17,000 jobs that are reliant on tourism to the region.

The Luksic family are famously well connected with the Trump family. They used to be Javanka’s landlords.

“I am using my full executive authority to protect the waters and wildlife of the Boundary Waters and to ensure the outfitters, small businesses, and communities that depend on it continue to thrive for generations to come,” states Walz.

What he’s doing is ordering Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to pause all permitting and related operations for all nonferrous mineral mining in the Rainy River Headwaters Watershed until the pending litigation in Northeastern Minnesotans for Wilderness v. DNR is finalized.

That case was originally filed in 2020, and has been through several hearings around motions to dismiss since. Standing has continually been affirmed, but it is unclear when the next hearing will take place.

Since it is unlikely that case will be concluded before January, Walz’s order could prevent construction from beginning until the next Congress enters session. If Democrats take control of both the House and Senate in this November’s mid-terms, it’s likely that they’ll take action to cancel the mine’s construction altogether.

Walz is also ordering the state legislature to begin work on legislation banning construction of the mine itself. Currently Democrats hold a slim majority in the state Senate, while the House is evenly split.

Walz is not seeking reelection. Following the Battle of Minneapolis, it’s widely expected that Senator Amy Klobuchar—who advocated against the mine during April’s vote—will be Minnesota’s next Governor. Should voters give her Democratic control of the state legislature, it’s likely she’ll be able to sign that legislation banning nonferrous mining in the BWCA headwaters early in her first term.

Failing those two options, a hypothetical future Democratic administration entering the White House in 2029 will be able to block construction at the USDA level.

If today’s action by Walz can push construction out to any of the above scenarios, America’s most popular Wilderness will be saved.

Top photo: David Lienemann

A journalist with more than two decades of experience working around the world, Wes Siler is here to cut through the outrage and disinformation to bring you the factual, insightful, actionable reporting you need to understand what’s going on. Upgrading to a paid subscription supports this reporting, and buys personal access to Wes, who will help you save money on gear, plan outdoor adventures, and prepare for real life, and who promises he’s less salty in real life than he sometimes comes across as on the Internet.