The federal court sided with government and with intervenors represented by Earthjustice

New decision restores legal consensus of five presidential administrations including Democrats and Republicans and allows for science-based decision on where risky mining is appropriate.

U.S. District Judge Christopher R. Cooper agreed with the government and intervening groups that Twin Metals failed to raise a proper claim and that the court did not have jurisdiction to hear the case, dismissing the lawsuit in full.

In 2020, Earthjustice sued the Trump administration on behalf of the Wilderness Society, Izaak Walton League of America, and the Center for Biological Diversity for improperly renewing two federal mining leases for Twin Metals. When the Biden administration cancelled those leases, Twin Metals sued. Earthjustice is now seeking to intervene on behalf of the conservation groups to defend the administration’s actions.

Dangerous mining plans threatened to ruin a pristine wilderness and a town’s thriving economy. Until we stepped in.

Plaintiffs challenge the BLM's failure to comply with NEPA when it issued two hardrock mining lease renewals, to Twin Metals Minnesota, in an area adjacent to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.

Secretary of Interior Deb Haaland has approved the mineral withdrawal of over 200,000 acres of Superior National Forest lands

This action challenges an attempt by the Bureau of Land Management to rescind a final decision issued nearly one and a half years previously. The Bureau’s previous decision, dated December 15, 2016, denied an application from Twin Metals Minnesota to renew two hardrock mineral leases, MNES 01352 and MNES 01353, adjacent to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in the Superior National Forest.

The result is a major step forward for all who work to preserve unspoiled and special wild spaces within the U.S.

Pollution from proposed Twin Metals mine would harm water quality and ecology in beloved wilderness area

We don’t have time for reckless bills that continue to give handouts to polluting industries at the expense of people, our environment, and our planet.

Groups oppose H.R. 3195, efforts to void the Boundary Waters area mineral withdrawal.

Applauds Biden administration decision to put science over politics

We are advocating for four solutions that together can ensure a sustainable supply chain for critical minerals.

The Department of Interior reinstates 50-year-old mining leases upstream of the Boundary Waters

Coal ash is leaching unsafe levels of toxic pollutants into groundwater at 91% of coal plants. Texas has 80 coal ash dumpsites.

Earthjustice reacts to today’s USDA announcement cancelling its application for safeguards against mining in Superior National Forest, impacting Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness

Sen. Smith urges U.S. Forest Service to study harmful mining impacts in cherished wilderness area