Despite strong opposition from environmental groups and Democrats, President Trump on Monday signed a resolution opening hundreds of thousands of acres of Minnesota wilderness to potential copper-nickel mining. The legislation overturns a Biden-era ban that had protected about 225,504 acres of Superior National Forest land from mineral leasing for 20 years.
Trump signs resolution opening 225,504 acres of Minnesota wilderness to copper-nickel mining, overturning a 20-year Biden-era ban.
The resolution, H.J. Res. 140, was introduced by Rep. Pete Stauber (R-Minn.) in January 2026. It used the Congressional Review Act to cancel Public Land Order 7917, which had established the mining moratorium. The House passed the measure 214-208 on January 21, 2026. The Senate followed with a narrow vote on April 16, 2026, passing it by roughly 50-49.
The affected land covers roughly 350 square miles south of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in northern Minnesota. The Boundary Waters itself stretches across 1.1 million acres of lakes, rivers, and forests. It’s one of the most visited wilderness areas in the United States.
Twin Metals Minnesota, a subsidiary of Chilean mining company Antofagasta, is positioned to pursue a copper-nickel mining project in the area. Supporters say the region holds critical minerals worth trillions of dollars. They argue that increased U.S. mineral production is needed for technology and economic growth.
Supporters also stressed that signing the resolution doesn’t guarantee a mine will be built. Twin Metals still needs additional federal action on its leases. The project also requires a range of state and federal permits and could face court challenges.
Opponents aren’t convinced those safeguards are enough. Environmental groups, hunting advocates, and Democrats say mining near the Boundary Waters is too risky. They’re worried about threats to the watershed that feeds the wilderness area. Opponents cite incidents like the Exxon Valdez spill to highlight risks of industrial extraction accidents causing catastrophic and long-lasting environmental damage to ecosystems. Greens and tribes have opposed mining near the Boundary Waters in the months leading up to approval.
This signing fits into a broader push by the Trump administration to expand mining on public lands. The Trump administration has pushed policies to speed up mining approvals and reducing public input. The administration has reportedly directed focus on mining as a priority use for some public lands. Other protected landscapes, including national monuments, are also facing pressure from mining interests under the new policies. Opponents cite polls showing strong Minnesotan support for permanent protection of the area, with Ingrid Lyons of Save the Boundary Waters saying the decision ignored the clear will of Minnesotans.
References
- https://www.eenews.net/articles/trump-signs-resolution-favoring-mining-near-boundary-waters/
- https://lptv.org/trump-signs-resolution-lifting-boundary-waters-canoe-area-mining-ban/
- https://nbcmontana.com/news/local/senate-sends-boundary-waters-mining-measure-to-trump
- https://www.wilderness.org/articles/press-release/mining-order-may-threaten-national-monuments-boundary-waters-other-public-lands
- https://www.youtube.com/shorts/lAPImtmt2vQ
- https://www.mprnews.org/story/2026/04/27/trump-ends-mining-ban-near-bounary-waters
