DULUTH, Minn. (Northern News Now) – President Donald Trump spoke about some of his new promises and policies for the next four years during his inauguration address Monday.
One key economic policy that affects Minnesota won’t develop instantly.
Regional political expert Aaron Brown says the biggest changes in Minnesota could revolve around copper-nickel mining in the northeast part of the state.
“We could expect the reversal of the moratorium on mining exploration in the watershed of the Boundary Waters,” Brown said.
During his campaign, Trump said he’d reverse the 20-year ban on such mining near the Boundary Waters as soon as he could after the Biden Administration canceled Twin Metals leases due to environmental concerns. The company wanted to locate a mine on federal land in the Superior National Forest.
Although Trump plans to lift the ban early in his new term, it would still be quite a while before such a mine becomes reality.
“We’ve been kind of chugging along on the assumption that these companies were ready to go,” Brown said. “But they might not be. This is a volatile marketplace.”
Brown said mining is strictly based on economics so even if restrictions are lifted by the president, companies still have to take finances into account and decide what their next steps may be.
“President or Congress, they aren’t the ones to declare that the mine will open — it is ultimately private industry,” Brown said.
As far as environmental concerns and copper-nickel mining go, Brown said Trump may be able to remove federal restrictions, but there are still tactics environmental groups may try which would add more to the timeline of any mining project looking to take advantage of Trump policies.
Right now, out of the three copper-nickel proposals for the northeast Minnesota area, NewRange, formerly known as PolyMet, is the farthest along in their process and could move forward pending a decision expected this year from the Minnesota DNR.
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