Less than two months ago, Governor Walz signed Executive Order 26-10, Enhancing Protection of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. It clearly said that as long as mining companies keep going after copper and nickel in the Rainy River Watershed (where the Boundary Waters is located), the health of the wilderness is at risk.

In the order, the Governor gave DNR clear direction to “review existing state nonferrous mineral leases located within the [Rainy River Headwaters] and strictly enforce compliance with the terms of those leases to the fullest extent of the law.”

That order now faces its first real test.

This week, DNR announced that NewRange Copper Nickel has submitted a plan to drill exploratory boreholes on a state mineral lease south of Babbitt. NewRange is a joint venture between PolyMet, owned by the Swiss mining giant Glencore, and the Canadian mining company Teck. A large part of this lease is in the Rainy River Watershed, which contains the Boundary Waters .

When the state signed this lease in 2001, it came with a deadline. Within ten years, the leaseholder had to develop mining and milling plans and start building mine and processing facilities. If it didn’t, the lease gives the DNR Commissioner the power to cancel it.

That deadline was 2011. It’s now 2026, and none of those commitments have been met. The lease has been in default for fifteen years.

This isn’t some obscure parcel of land. NewRange seeks to build a sprawling mining complex that straddles two watersheds. This operation could pollute both Lake Superior and the Boundary Waters. This Lake Superior–Boundary Waters mega-mine needs this lease to operate.

The Governor told DNR to strictly enforce state mineral leases in the Rainy River Watershed to the fullest extent of the law. NewRange has defaulted on the lease, and by the terms of that Executive Order, DNR should reject NewRange’s exploration plan and cancel the lease. That’s how Executive Order 26-10 becomes more than words on paper, and how we protect the Boundary Waters for generations to come.

We are grateful that Governor Walz issued the Executive Order. We look forward to Governor Walz following through with the commitments in the Executive Order and canceling the Lease.

Letter and Lease Agreement