Eye on Mining

U.S. Army Corps revokes permit for NorthMet Mine, previously known as Polymet

Updated: 16 hours ago

By Hayley Raatsi

This comes a few months after PolyMet and Teck American, Inc. partnered to become NewRange.

News

Executive Council votes to give Cleveland-Cliffs mineral leases.

Nashwauk mining leases headed to Cleveland-Cliffs

Updated: May. 25, 2023 at 8:19 PM CDT

By Cara Kopp

The iron ore mine near Nashwauk, Minnesota is now one big step closer to coming back to life.

Eye on Mining

Gov. Tim Walz signs a bill providing unemployment insurance for Iron Range workers as...

Walz, council grant Cleveland-Cliffs Mesabi Metallics’ old mineral leases

Updated: May. 25, 2023 at 1:38 PM CDT

By Hayley Raatsi

The decision was made during an Executive Council meeting at the State Capitol Thursday.

Eye on Mining

Cleveland Cliffs HibTac mine in Hibbing.

EPA wants iron miners in Minnesota, Michigan to slash mercury emissions

Updated: May. 15, 2023 at 9:05 AM CDT

By The Associated Press

Federal authorities have proposed new regulations that would force Minnesota’s iron mining industry to slash its mercury emissions.

Eye on Mining

DNR recommending Nashwauk mineral leases go to Cleveland-Cliffs

Updated: May. 4, 2023 at 1:12 PM CDT

By Hayley Raatsi

The DNR has included this as an agenda item for the May 25 Executive Council meeting.

News

Federal lawmakers, led by Minnesota’s Republican Congressman Pete Stauber, spent Tuesday...

Stauber brings congressional field hearing on mining to the Range

Updated: May. 2, 2023 at 6:35 PM CDT

By Larissa Milles

Federal lawmakers, led by Minnesota’s Republican Congressman Pete Stauber, spent Tuesday touring and hearing about mining opportunities on the Iron Range.

Eye on Mining

Cliffs Mining in Silver Bay partially resumes operation

Updated: Apr. 25, 2023 at 5:40 PM CDT

By Ben Lewer

Last May, Cliffs laid off more than 400 workers at its iron ore mine in Babbitt and pellet plant in Silver Bay.

News

Soudan's Only Store building started as Oliver Mining headquarters in 1892.

Soudan’s Only Store still surviving after 131 years on the Vermilion Iron Range

Updated: Mar. 14, 2023 at 12:09 PM CDT

By Dave Anderson

The old Oliver Mining clubhouse has been serving Soudan one way or another since 1892.

Eye on Mining

Sen. Hauschild: Cleveland-Cliffs to restart idled mining operations

Updated: Feb. 20, 2023 at 12:45 PM CST

By Hayley Raatsi

Senator Grant Hauschild (DFL - Hermantown) said Monday he received confirmation from Cleveland-Cliffs of their plans to reopen facilities in Babbitt and Silver Bay.

Reaction to Biden Administration’s mining ban for BWCA watershed

Updated: Jan. 26, 2023 at 8:46 PM CST

By Cara Kopp

In the wake of Thursday's decision, there's been no shortage of reaction from folks on both sides, and those who would've been directly impacted by the construction of twin metals' proposed copper-nickel mine.

First Alert Clouds & Radar

News

U.S. Govt. signs order banning mining in BWCA watershed for 20 years

Updated: Jan. 26, 2023 at 1:05 PM CST

By The Associated Press

The Biden administration has moved to protect the pristine Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in northeastern Minnesota from future mining.

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Unemployment benefits restored for hundreds of Northshore miners

Updated: Jan. 25, 2023 at 6:48 PM CST

By Quinn Gorham

Governor Tim Walz signed a bill Wednesday restoring unemployment benefits for 410 laid-off Northshore Mining workers.

News

MN Supreme Court won’t review decision to pull Mesabi Metallics’ mineral leases

Updated: Jan. 17, 2023 at 6:15 PM CST

By Briggs LeSavage

Mesabi Metallics has been hoping to build a mining and pelletization plant on the former Essar site in Nashwauk.

News

Talon Metals’ Tamarack project to see $114M for nickel mining efforts

Updated: Oct. 19, 2022 at 4:45 PM CDT

By Northern News Now staff

According to Talon Metals, they were awarded $114 million from last year’s Infrastructure Bill.

News

Mesabi Metallics: Company finishes paying overdue taxes to Itasca County

Updated: Oct. 19, 2022 at 2:18 PM CDT

By Briggs LeSavage

Mesabi Metallics representatives added Wednesday they also paid the penalties and October’s property taxes in advance.

News

As USW reaches tentative contract with Cliffs, negotiations continue at other Iron Range mines

Updated: Sep. 6, 2022 at 6:58 PM CDT

By Quinn Gorham

VIRGINIA, MN -- Cleveland-Cliffs has reached an agreement with unions at 13 of its locations, including Minorca Mine just north of Virginia.

News

Gov. Walz talks criticism, copper-nickel mining and gun violence in one-on-one interview with Dan Wolfe

Updated: Aug. 23, 2022 at 11:02 PM CDT

By Dan Wolfe

The interview comes with just over two months to election day.

News

Twin Metals sues Biden administration, aims to reclaim mineral leases

Updated: Aug. 22, 2022 at 2:03 PM CDT

By Briggs LeSavage

Twin Metals’ spokespeople hope Monday’s lawsuit will help them reclaim their mineral leases.

News

U.S. Steel chooses Keetac for new pellet production facility

Updated: Jul. 29, 2022 at 5:49 PM CDT

By Briggs LeSavage

They say Keetac’s high-quality ore body and long mine life made it the right choice.

News

Cliffs extends idle at Babbitt, Silver Bay facilities; lay offs continue for 410 workers

Updated: Jul. 22, 2022 at 1:30 PM CDT

By Briggs LeSavage

The facilities first idled in May, laying off 410 of their 600 workers.

News

Vake tapped to lead Iron Mining Association

Updated: Jun. 27, 2022 at 5:26 PM CDT

By Briggs LeSavage

Vake, a Chisholm native and former CBS 3 anchor and executive producer, will take on the new role starting July 5.

Eye on Mining

Feds issue draft assessment that could doom Twin Metals’ proposed mine

Updated: Jun. 23, 2022 at 5:18 PM CDT

By The Associated Press

The proposal would “withdraw” about 352 square miles within the Rainy River watershed in the Superior National Forest

News

Feds issue draft assessment that could doom Twin Metals’ proposed mine

Updated: Jun. 23, 2022 at 5:17 PM CDT

By The Associated Press

The proposal would “withdraw” about 352 square miles within the Rainy River watershed in the Superior National Forest

News

MN Court of Appeals dismisses challenge to a key PolyMet permit

Updated: Jun. 21, 2022 at 9:03 PM CDT

State court rules in favor of PolyMet permit.

News

PolyMet defends mine project in Day 2 of permit hearing

Updated: May. 3, 2022 at 6:42 PM CDT

By Quinn Gorham and Larissa Milles

Tuesday was the first day of a hearing for PolyMet’s NorthMet mine.

News

Made in America: How new regulations could boost Minnesota’s mining industry

Updated: Apr. 18, 2022 at 10:00 PM CDT

By Quinn Gorham

President Joe Biden announced new regulations Monday meant to keep infrastructure money within the United States.

News

State DNR to stop work on environmental review for Twin Metals

Updated: Feb. 15, 2022 at 3:46 PM CST

State agency to pause environmental review work on proposed copper and nickel mining project.

News

Minntac investigating mine structure collapse, no injuries

Updated: Feb. 5, 2022 at 4:52 PM CST

Minntac is investigating following a structural failure that led to a collapse at their Mountain Iron, Minnesota mine.

News

Judge sides with DNR in Mesabi Metallics’ lawsuit

Updated: Jan. 28, 2022 at 4:46 PM CST

A judge has ruled in favor of the DNR and is requiring Mesabi Metallics to pay the state back.

News

Court offers mixed views on water permit for Minnesota mine

Updated: Jan. 24, 2022 at 7:00 PM CST

By The Associated Press

A Minnesota appeals court has issued a mixed opinion in a complicated case involving a proposed copper-nickel mine.

News

Mining ban near Boundary Waters once again on the table

Updated: Jan. 13, 2022 at 12:26 PM CST

By The Associated Press

The ongoing tug-of war over whether mining should be allowed near the pristine Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness has been resurrected with strong opinions on both sides of the issue.

News