Walz Signs Order to Slow Mining Near Boundary Waters Wilderness

On Aug. 18, 2026, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz signed a state executive order stating that Minnesota would not review or process permits for proposed copper-nickel mining projects near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. The order follows action four months earlier by Congress and the Trump administration to lift a 20-year federal ban on mining in the Superior National Forest watershed. The order applies to companies such as Twin Metals, which would still need separate state and federal environmental reviews and permits before any mining could proceed. The executive order effectively adds a new layer of state-level review that delays any near-term prospect of mining in the area, without itself constituting a permanent ban. Environmental advocates and Democrats voiced support for the move, framing it as protection for the wilderness area, while Republicans and some local Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party members objected. Republican gubernatorial nominee and Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth publicly opposed the order, arguing mining could be conducted safely and would provide jobs for Minnesotans. U.S. Rep. Pete Stauber also reacted critically to the order. The order's practical effect is to pause state processing of mining permits indefinitely, though the underlying federal policy change allowing mining remains in place. It remains unresolved how long the state review pause will last, whether it will be challenged legally, and what specific next steps companies like Twin Metals will take in response. The broader political dispute—centered on economic benefits versus environmental protection—remains unresolved and is likely to factor into Minnesota's ongoing gubernatorial race between Walz and Demuth.