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Tim Walz issued an executive order Tuesday blocking new mining permits and leases near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, putting the state in direct conflict with legislation President Donald Trump signed in April.
That law reversed a Biden-era order that had prohibited new mining leases near the Boundary Waters for 20 years. A significant portion of the land covered by Walz's order falls under federal jurisdiction.
House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., the highest-ranking Minnesotan in Congress, called the move "stupid" and "dangerous." He told Fox News Digital that the order would "harm Minnesota" and "good union jobs in northern Minnesota," and that it would "put our national defense more at risk with our enemies, adversaries like Communist China." The legislation enabling new leases was sponsored by Rep.
Pete Stauber, R-Minn., and cleared both chambers before Trump signed it. Walz's order targets copper and nickel specifically.
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