US DOI cancels Twin Metals Minnesota mineral leases
Published by Will Owen,
Editor
Global Mining Review,
The US Department of the Interior (DOI) has cancelled two hardrock mineral leases adjacent to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in northeastern Minnesota.
The action comes after the Department’s legal determination that the leases, held by Twin Metals Minnesota, were improperly renewed by the Department in 2019.
“The Department of the Interior takes seriously our obligations to steward public lands and waters on behalf of all Americans. We must be consistent in how we apply lease terms to ensure that no lessee receives special treatment,” said Secretary Deb Haaland. “After a careful legal review, we found the leases were improperly renewed in violation of applicable statutes and regulations, and we are taking action to cancel them.”
A new legal opinion from the Interior Department’s Office of Solicitor found significant legal deficiencies in the circumstances surrounding the 2019 renewal, including: the lease renewal forms contravened the Department’s regulations; the Department did not duly recognise the US Forest Service’s consent authority; and the inadequate environmental analysis failed to include a no-renewal, no-action alternative. Subsequently, the Interior Department has cancelled the two leases.
No mineral production has occurred on either lease since the original date of issuance in 1966.
Read the article online at: https://www.globalminingreview.com/mining/28012022/us-doi-cancels-twin-metals-minnesota-mineral-leases/
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