Emmer praises USDA decision to restart mineral leasing in Minnesota

U.S. Rep. Tom Emmer (R-MN) on Sept. 6 commended the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) cancellation of an Obama-era mineral withdrawal application for the Superior National Forest in his home state.

“The Department of Agriculture’s move today to cancel the federal withdrawal is a major victory for Minnesota,” Rep. Emmer said. “Despite arguments that Washington should make these decisions for us, now, Minnesota’s mineral rights are finally restored back to the people of our great state.”

According to a statement released by the congressman’s office, the Obama administration planned to prohibit development on more than 425,000 acres in the forest via enactment of a 20-year ban on industry activity, including up to two years for a temporary study. Calling Obama’s action an “unchecked move,” Rep. Emmer’s staff said it negatively impacted local economies.

In particular, USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue noted that the state’s Rainy River Watershed in the Superior National Forest, which is known for its mineral development potential, has been mined for decades and is known as the Iron Range due to the many iron mines located there.

The cancellation of the Obama administration’s application that blocked mineral exploration in the watershed balances USDA’s commitment to both economic opportunity and conservation, according to a Sept. 6 statement issued by the USDA.

“It’s our duty as responsible stewards of our environment to maintain and protect our natural resources,” Perdue said in the statement. “At the same time, we must put our national forests to work for the taxpayers to support local economies and create jobs.

“We can do these two things at once: protect the integrity of the watershed and contribute to economic growth and stronger communities,” the secretary said.

The decision follows a June commitment made by President Donald Trump during a visit to Duluth to end the Obama administration’s two-year study and to restore Minnesota’s mineral exploration rights.

In its statement last week, the USDA said that interested companies soon will be able to lease minerals in the watershed in the Superior National Forest following a 15-month review by the U.S. Forest Service.

“I am grateful to the President, Secretary Zinke, Secretary Purdue and the entire administration for their support in our efforts to fully restore Minnesota’s right to explore,” said Rep. Emmer.

The congressman last October introduced the bipartisan Minnesota’s Economic Rights in the Superior National Forest Act, H.R. 3905, also known as the MINER Act, which he said would restore the state’s right to explore and, if environmentally appropriate, mine precious metals.

H.R. 3905, among several provisions, would declare that minerals within the National Forest System (NFS) lands in Minnesota would not be subject to withdrawal from disposition under U.S. mineral and geothermal leasing laws unless such withdrawal is approved by an act of Congress, according to the congressional record summary.

H.R. 3905 on Nov. 30, 2017 received U.S. House approval. The U.S. Senate received the bill on Dec. 1, 2017, where it remains under consideration by the the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.

“My MINER Act demonstrated the strong bipartisan support that exists for unleashing our state’s full mining potential,” Rep. Emmer said.