The U-S Forest Service says it will scale back environmental review of mineral leases for the proposed Twin Metals copper-nickel mine and other projects near the B-W-C-A Wilderness, reversing a decision by the Obama administration. Aaron Klemz with Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy says it “takes what should have been a comprehensive study of the risk and turns it into a back-of-the-napkin analysis.” Nancy Norr with Jobs for Minnesotans applauds the Trump administration’s move, saying about the Obama administration’s now-reversed decision, “We already have a rigorous environmental review process in place, and this completely diverted from that process.”
Klemz says, “We have a great obligation to not just this generation but the ones that follow it, to make sure that we don’t end up contaminating a national, international treasure.” But Norr says delay from extra environmental review by the Obama administration “has had a chilling effect on investment, …on… potentially other parties that have lease interests in that region.”