Minnesota DNR Cancels Twin Metals Mineral Lease South of Boundary Waters
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has canceled a mineral lease for Twin Metals, a site located south of the Boundary Waters. Twin Metals indicated it still holds other mineral rights statewide.
Minneapolis St. Paul, MN, September 12, 2026 — The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has officially canceled a mineral lease agreement concerning a site located south of the Boundary Waters, a significant environmental and recreational area. The lease was held by Twin Metals, a company involved in copper and nickel mining exploration in the region.
The specific reasons for the lease cancellation by the Minnesota DNR were not detailed in the provided information. The duration of the lease and the exact timeline of its cancellation were also not immediately available.
Following the DNR’s decision, Twin Metals issued a statement asserting that the company retains other mineral rights across the state of Minnesota. The extent and location of these other rights were not specified.
The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) is a protected wilderness area in the Superior National Forest, known for its extensive network of lakes and forests. Mineral exploration and potential mining activities in proximity to the BWCAW have been a subject of environmental concern and debate for many years.
Twin Metals has been pursuing a project to develop a copper-nickel mine in the region. This project has faced opposition from environmental groups and some local communities concerned about the potential impact on water quality and the surrounding ecosystem. The cancellation of this particular lease represents a development in the ongoing discussions and regulatory processes surrounding resource extraction in sensitive areas of Minnesota.
Further details regarding the exact lease that was canceled, including its identification and the contractual obligations involved, were not provided. The company’s assertion of holding additional mineral rights statewide indicates a continuing presence and interest in resource development within Minnesota, separate from the canceled agreement.
Story summarized from the original created by Kilat.Fitzgerald@fox.com (Kilat Fitzgerald) on www.fox9.com, see more information here.
