Walz Halts Mining Near Boundary Waters | Wilmington News

Wilmington News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Aug 19, 2026 · 1m

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz just issued a bold executive order halting new mining permits near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, directly challenging a Trump-era law that opened the door to mining for critical minerals like copper and nickel. With the Duluth Complex holding some of North America’s largest untapped deposits — vital for EVs and military tech — Walz’s move sparks fierce debate: Republicans call it reckless and damaging to U.S. supply chains and union jobs, while environmentalists hail it as a win for wilderness protection. As tensions rise and details remain sparse…