Pro-mining group strongly supports project near the Boundary Waters - wtip.org

The pro-mining group ‘Up North Jobs’ is suing to overturn an order by Gov. Mark Dayton that was considered a setback to the proposed Twin Metals copper-nickel mine near Ely.

In March 2017, Dayton directed the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources not to enter into any new access or lease agreements for mining operations on state-owned lands near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.

Up North Jobs announced on Jan. 9 it filed a lawsuit in St. Louis County District Court seeking an injunction to let mineral exploration continue there, saying Dayton’s order violated state statutes.

WTIP’s Joe Friedrichs spoke with Gerald Tyler, the founder of Up North Jobs, about the lawsuit and other issues related to mining in northeastern Minnesota.