Twin Metals Minnesota (TMM) recently updated progress on its underground mine project. The company now reports that “although we firmly stated that our proposal will be subject to an extensive environmental review process, misinformation continues to swirl surrounding our commitment to environmental accountability. We’d like to clear that up.

“Twin Metals Minnesota is deeply committed to protecting the environment, specifically the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, before, during and after the construction and operation of our mine. Several of our employees, including leadership, call northeast Minnesota home. We wouldn’t want this project to move forward if we didn’t believe in our ability to protect the area’s most valuable natural treasures.

“Beyond our own passions to protect the environment, the project will not legally be allowed to continue if both state and federal environmental requirements are not met or exceeded. Mining is a heavily regulated industry. The Department of Natural Resources, Pollution Control Agency, Environmental Protection Agency and Army Corps of Engineers will all weigh in on our proposal, and if any aspect is flawed, it cannot progress.

“In addition to governmental input, public input is a critical component of the project’s review. Several comment periods have already taken place, and after we submit our proposal to the Bureau of Land Management, a multi-year environmental impact statement process will begin wherein community members can request impacts to be studied. Plus, anyone who wants to have a productive conversation or learn more about our project is welcome to visit our field office located in Ely.

“Our employees, our leadership and our state and federal government will not accept Twin Metals Minnesota taking any shortcuts at the expense of the environment. If we can’t build and operate this mine the right way, we won’t do it at all.”

Located approximately 14.5 km southeast of the city of Ely, Minnesota, and almost 18 km miles northeast of the city of Babbitt, Minnesota, the TMM Project targets the valuable minerals within the Maturi deposit, part of the Duluth Complex geologic formation. The mine will probably extract 20,000 t/d of mineralized ore.