Minnesota Eighth District U.S. Congressman Pete Stauber is moving to overturn a President Joe Biden administration action that aimed to place a federal ban on mining and natural resource extraction on 225,504 acres of land within the Superior National Forest.
Stauber said he will introduce a resolution to nullify the Biden administration action. Stauber’s action comes after the President Donald Trump administration has corrected a Biden administration failure to properly notify Congress on the Biden mineral withdrawal, Stauber said.
“I commend the Trump Administration for correcting the Biden Administration’s failure to properly notify Congress of this mineral withdrawal in the Superior National Forest,” Stauber said in a news release.
“Under the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA), the Secretary of the Interior is required to notify Congress of such a withdrawal. Now that it has been properly submitted to Congress under President Trump’s leadership, I plan to introduce a resolution under the Congressional Review Act (CRA), to disapprove of and nullify the Biden Administration’s illegal mineral withdrawal that banned mining in Northern Minnesota, locking up the Duluth Complex.
‘This dangerous and illegal mining ban was thrust upon my constituents and our way of life in Northern Minnesota and put our nation’s mineral security in jeopardy. Northern Minnesota mined the iron ore that won this nation two World Wars and we will mine the copper, nickel, and other critical minerals that will allow the United States to compete and win in the 21st Century.”
The Biden administration action would place a 20-year ban on any future exploration and mining with the 225,504 acres.
Under the Federal Lands Policy and Management Act, the U.S. Department of the Interior is required to notify Congress of Public Land Orders impacting an excess of 5,000 acres, Stauber said.
However, the Biden administration failed to property transmit Public Land Order 7917 to Congress in January 2023, Stauber said.
The Trump administration has now transmitted the order to Congress, Stauber said. With the transmission, the order is now eligible for review under a Congressional Review Act, according to Stauber.
Congress has the authority to review and disapprove of federal actions within 60 Senate session days of the action’s submittal to Congress, Stauber said.
The Trump administration action would provide a boost to a proposed Twin Metals Minnesota copper, nickel project that for decades has held mineral leases on the land.
Twin Metals Minnesota has proposed developing an underground copper, nickel mine between Babbitt and Ely.
However, the project has been caught up in a back-and-forth between federal administrations.
FormerPresidentBarackObama canceled the mineral leases shortly before leaving office.
Trump’s administration, in his first term, reinstated the leases.
Biden’s Department of the Interior in 2023 then canceled the leases and moved to place the 20-year mineral withdrawal. Twin Metals Minnesota applauded the potential reversal.
“Twin Metals Minnesota is very appreciative of Congress for their efforts to overturn an unnecessary and detrimental action that locked out a significant domestic source of critical minerals, which are needed now more than ever to accomplish our shared goals of energy security, creating good paying jobs and strengthening our nation’s supply chains,” Kathy Graul, Twin Metals Minnesota Director, Public Affairs and Communication said. “Minnesota is fortunate to have both world-class mineral deposits and a stringent regulatory framework that ensures mining projects are held to the highest environmental and labor standards. Twin Metals is committed to moving forward with the responsible development of our mineral resources for the benefit of Minnesota communities while also contributing to a stronger nation.”
MiningMinnesota said it supports Congress’s use of the Congressional Review Act to nullify the Biden administration action.
“At MiningMinnesota, we’re Minnesotans first,” Julie Lucas, MiningMinnesota executive director said. “We value the lakes, forests, wildlife, and clean water of northeastern Minnesota, a region people travel to from across the state and the country, and one that has long supported both working landscapes and treasured natural places. That’s why we advocate for modern, environmentally responsible mining, with clear expectations that our water, land, and communities are protected, today and for generations to come. We welcome Congress’s use of the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to remove unnecessary barriers and allow potential projects in northeast Minnesota to advance under rigorous, transparent review. The United States is accelerating the transition to advanced manufacturing and cleaner energy systems, all requiring copper, nickel, cobalt, and platinum group metals. Developing these resources in Minnesota means applying best-in-class engineering, continuous water quality monitoring, modern reclamation processes, and enforceable permits backed by state and federal oversight. It also means partnership with local communities and respect for cultural resources, with benefits that include highly- skilled jobs, research investment, and a stronger domestic supply chain. The CRA vote is a practical affirmation that science and process, not shifting politics, should guide mine permitting. Minnesotans can safeguard our environment and supply the minerals essential to grid reliability, electric vehicles, and defense systems for national security. Advancing mining projects in the region under clear rules will demonstrate that modern mining is compatible with our values and vital to our future. We’re ready to do the work, meet the standards, and deliver responsibly mined minerals for Minnesota and the nation.”
The action also drew support from Jobs for Minnesotans.
“This decisive step affirms that workers, communities, and the environment all deserve a clear, consistent process,” Dave Lislegard, Jobs for Minnesotans executive director said. “Minnesota’s workforce is second to none; when given a fair shot, we deliver projects that meet or exceed every benchmark for safety and environmental performance. Like many of the Minnesotans I interact with everyday, I believe in the stringent regulatory process and environmental standards that this state has worked hard to develop and implement. I understand that Minnesota’s abundant mineral resources benefit our state’s economy and help contribute to our children’s education through the School Trust Fund. I’m also a realist: Americans rely on these materials to develop products we use every day, and we must ensure we are self-sufficient in these resources, moving away from foreign reliance. Given all of the benefits, it’s common sense to allow the process to move forward and to give companies seeking to mine in the region an opportunity to prove that they can execute according to the high standards that our state demands.”
The mineral withdrawal banned mining and other responsible resource extraction in a strategically significant area of the Duluth Complex, Stauber said.
Th e Duluth Complex is the world’s largest undeveloped reserve of copper, nickel, cobalt, and platinum group metals in the world.
Estimates are that the complex holds about 9.4 billion tons of critical minerals reserves.
Removing the withdrawal does not remove environmental protections or mean mining begins, MiningMinnesota said.
Any proposed mining project must go through years-long multi-agency environmental review before construction can start, MiningMinnesota said.
Mining is prohibited within the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
The Superior National Forest is composed of about 3.9 million
