Today, House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.), Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources Chairman Pete Stauber (R-Minn.) and Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations Chairman Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.) led a letter to Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland and Bureau of Land Management Director Tracy Stone-Manning as part of their continued investigation into the cancellation of two decades-old mineral leases in the Superior National Forest. In part, the members wrote:

"The House Committee on Natural Resources continues to seek information related to the cancellation of two decades-old mineral leases in the Superior National Forest (Twin Metals leases) and the withdrawal of 225,504 acres of mineral-rich land in the same area from mineral exploration and development. The Committee sent the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) three previous letters—on November 20, 2023, January 8, 2024, and August 27, 2024 —to which we received either an inadequate response or no response at all.

"The production the Committee previously received was largely unresponsive. For example, the Committee received no explanation of how cancelling the Twin Metals leases or withdrawing hundreds of thousands of acres of mineral-rich lands from exploration and development supports reducing our nation’s dependence on minerals sourced from foreign adversaries. Moreover, the Committee received duplicate documents, blank pages, and unidentified calendar invitations. Worse yet, the Committee received no evidence that either the DOI or BLM considered the economic or practical impact on businesses in Northern Minnesota before choosing to obstruct mineral production there."

To read the full letter, click here. 

Background

Northeast Minnesota is home to one of the world's largest known undeveloped copper-nickel deposits, yet with the decision to shutter development in this area, the Biden-Harris administration has clearly demonstrated its intent to block access to the resources necessary for our daily life and national security.

Upon completion, the Twin Metals mine would tap into vast domestic supplies of minerals, like copper, that are necessary for renewable energy, computer systems, defense applications and essential household products. Unfortunately, the Biden-Harris administration canceled two decades-old leases held by Twin Metals and dealt a massive blow to our domestic mining industry and supply chain.

Minnesota is a mineral-rich area with a storied mining heritage and considerable opportunity for future mining development. The Biden-Harris administration’s decision to restrict access to nearly 225,000 acres of Minnesota’s Superior National Forest for mining development is yet another decision that puts America's mineral supply chain at risk.

Surrounding both of these actions by the Biden-Harris administration are private, undocumented meetings between government officials and The Wilderness Society, one of the plaintiffs in litigation surrounding the Twin Metals permits. DOI and the Biden-Harris administration have refused to provide information about these meetings to the committee. 

This is the committee's fourth attempt to learn more about these concerning undocumented meetings that led to the disastrous mineral withdrawal. The committee's initial, unanswered request was sent on Nov. 20, 2023.