Release: Twin Metals Announces Tailings Facility Closer To BWCA

Today Twin Metals Minnesota announced new plans to dry stack it’s acid-generating mine tailings in the watershed of the Boundary Waters and Voyageurs National Park, even closer to the BWCA than previously planned. This is not an improvement. No safeguard from this type of mining would prevent pollution or negative impacts on the fish and wildlife of the BWCA or on the small businesses that depend on it. This project still presents an unacceptable risk to the Boundary Waters, our outdoor traditions and future generations who will benefit from this one of a kind place. 

“Today’s announcement is an absolute Hail Mary by a mining company that is desperate to gain approval for a project destined to pollute one of the most cherished wild places in America,” said Lukas Leaf, Executive Director of Sportsmen for the Boundary Waters. “Twin Metals seems to think that putting the riskiest mining project in our state’s history even closer to the Boundary Waters somehow makes their project safer – Minnesotans know better.”

“Backcountry Hunters & Anglers supports the protection of the Boundary Waters from pollution to our lakes and waterways. It makes no sense to continue planning and permitting a mine that would harm the local outdoor recreation economy and be detrimental to downstream fish and wildlife habitat,” said John Gale, Conservation Director for Backcountry Hunters & Anglers. “The Forest Service and BLM need to complete a science-based study of the mineral withdrawal in the Boundary Waters watershed. The agencies are unreasonably putting a world-class hunting and angling destination at risk.”  

Twin Metals made a number of false claims in their announcement, the most brazen being that the Maturi Deposit will be non-acid generating. In fact, data from state and federal agencies, as well as independent testing, proves that the Maturi Deposit is not only acid-generating but has already been exposed to air and water at the Dunka Mine operated by LTV as far back as 1964. The same deposit that Twin Metals hopes to mine has been generating acid for over 40 years. 

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For media inquiries contact: 

Lukas Leaf – [email protected] 

Spencer Shaver – [email protected]

Sportsmen for the Boundary Waters works tirelessly to protect the integrity of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and its watersheds for huntable and fishable populations of fish and wildlife, now and forever through advocacy and education.

Categorised in: News, Press Release