Minnesota Governor Tim Walz issued an executive order Tuesday blocking new mining permits and leases near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, directly challenging a previous federal action by President Donald Trump. The order focuses on the potential mining of critical minerals such as copper and nickel in an area known as the Duluth Complex, which contains North America's largest known untapped deposits of these metals.
Walz's directive defies legislation signed by Trump in April that reversed a Biden administration order, which had halted new mining leases near the Boundary Waters for 20 years. The minerals targeted by potential mining are essential for various applications, including electric vehicle components, military equipment, and commercial electronics.
Criticism from Republican Lawmakers
House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., the highest-ranking Minnesotan in Congress, condemned Walz's decision, labeling it "stupid" and "dangerous." Emmer argued that the move would increase U.S. reliance on adversaries like China for essential minerals and would negatively impact union jobs in northern Minnesota. He also suggested that failing to develop these domestic resources puts national defense at risk.
"This lame duck loser is trying to make us more energy and mineral-dependent on our adversaries," Emmer stated in comments to Fox News Digital. He further contended that the U.S. can mine these resources more responsibly and with stricter environmental standards than other nations, including China.
"Every one of us is an environmentalist. I make this point, so nobody gets to claim the high ground. It's like somebody saying, 'I'm a better conservative than you.' No, we all care about our environment. We all want clean water. We all want clean air," Emmer said. "What you're literally saying is, 'I'd rather have the Chinese and other adversaries mine in the old-fashioned ways and not care about leaving the world in a better condition, than allow us to do it right here in Minnesota.'"
Environmental Group Support and Concerns
Environmental organizations, while hailing Walz's order, acknowledged that mining is already prohibited within the Boundary Waters itself. However, they have expressed concerns that mining operations in areas adjacent to the protected zone could still harm the ecosystem. Save The Boundary Waters executive director Ingrid Lyons stated that Walz's action is a crucial step in preventing "toxic copper mining out of the headwaters of the Boundary Waters."
"The Federal Government sold out our canoe country earlier this year by stripping away protections that took hundreds of thousands of Minnesotans' voices and years of work to secure, all while ignoring science and the will of the public," Lyons said in a statement. "Now, our Governor is doing right by Minnesota by pulling out all of the stops to keep toxic copper mining out of the headwaters of the Boundary Waters, while also calling on our state's legislature to finish the job permanently."