Twin Metals continues to fight for mineral leases, files appeal on Friday

Twin Metals Minnesota filed a notice of appeal in the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit following September’s dismissal of its lawsuit by a U.S. District Court Judge.

With this move, Twin Metals is defending its long held mineral leases in northeast Minnesota from what they call unlawful federal agency action.

“Twin Metals is committed to securing its federal mineral rights, which are essential to our transition to a clean energy future,” said Francisco Awad, Chief Project Officer of Twin Metals Minnesota. “The team at Twin Metals is shaping the future of sustainable mining while championing environmental responsibility. We can both safely mine for critical minerals and protect our environment. Let’s allow for the environmental review process to demonstrate that.”

Twin had filed the lawsuit in August of 2022.

Environmental groups are pushing back,

Ingrid Lyons, Executive Director of the Campaign to Save the Boundary Waters, issued the following statement: “Twin Metals is at it again: its lawsuit was dismissed on September 6, 2023, and we won this case fair and square. But just this morning, Twin Metals filed to appeal this decision. By appealing U.S. District Court Judge Cooper’s dismissal of the lawsuit, Twin Metals is clearly trying to revive its rejected plan to build a dangerous sulfide-ore copper mine along rivers, lakes, and streams that flow directly into the Wilderness. It’s obvious that it will stop at nothing to resurrect its rejected sulfide-ore copper mine in the watershed of the Boundary Waters.”