Provision that would allow for mining in Minnesota stripped from budget bill

Minnesota Public Radio reported that a controversial provision that would open land adjacent to the Boundary Waters in Canoe Area and pave the way for Twin Metals Minnesota to advance its copper and nickel mine was removed from the “Big, beautiful” budget bill that is being considered by Congress.

The provision called for the return of two federal mineral leases to Twin Metals Minnesota, part of the Chilean mining conglomerate Antofagasta, which is seeking to open an underground copper mine on the shore of Birch Lake outside Ely.

The U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources had included the provisions in the budget reconciliation bill, a budget tool Republicans are using that enables Congress to bypass the 60-vote threshold normally required to pass a bill in the Senate. 

But a U.S. House rules committee stripped the language from President Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.”  It was one of several provisions taken out for not complying with the budget reconciliation process, because it deals with policy and not strictly budgetary items.

Mining proponents have argued that modern mining methods can protect the Boundary Waters, while also providing high-paying jobs in rural Minnesota and mining minerals needed for the clean energy transition.

Julie Lucas, executive director of the industry group MiningMinnesota, said the language removal delays actions that are needed “to ensure Americans can build and power tomorrow with responsibly mined minerals. Leaders from both sides of the aisle recognize the need to increase our domestic production of minerals, and we welcome conversations about Minnesota’s role in meeting those mineral security goals.”

U.S. Rep. Pete Stauber, a Republican from the Duluth area who represents northeastern Minnesota in Congress, introduced legislation in February to permanently revoke the mining moratorium and return the leases to Twin Metals.

His bill would also limit the ability of opponents to file lawsuits to block the return of leases to Twin Metals. That language was also included in the stripped portion of the budget bill.

Smith has introduced a bill in the Senate to make the 20-year mining ban permanent. Democratic U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum of St. Paul has introduced a similar bill in the House.