The U.S. House of Representatives has approved H.J. Res. 140, a resolution aimed at reversing the Biden administration’s decision to withdraw over 225,000 acres in Minnesota’s Superior National Forest from mineral exploration and development. The resolution was introduced by Pete Stauber (R-Minn.), chairman of the House Committee on Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.
House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) commented, “Today, the House took an important step toward responsibly unlocking our nation’s mineral wealth and securing our domestic mineral supply chains while ensuring the strongest environmental protections for our nation’s public lands and waters. Unleashing Northern Minnesota’s vast deposits of copper, cobalt, and nickel will reduce our reliance on China for the minerals that power our economy and national security. Representative Stauber is a champion for responsibly developing American mineral resources and for Minnesota’s Iron Range, and I thank him for his tireless efforts to overturn President Biden’s nonsensical withdrawal.”
Stauber also spoke about the impact of the measure: “I'm thrilled the House has passed H.J. Res. 140 to repeal Biden's illegal mining ban that locked up 225,504 acres in Northern Minnesota, directly threatening our way of life. Growing up in the Northland, I've seen firsthand how these radical policies kill jobs and hurt families. This win allows for important proposed hardrock mining and helium projects to move forward in the state and federal permitting processes. The Iron Range mined the iron ore that helped this nation win two World Wars and I am confident we'll responsibly mine the critical minerals that will allow us to compete and win in the 21st Century.”
The Duluth Complex in northern Minnesota contains significant mineral resources, including nearly eight billion tons of critical minerals such as nickel, cobalt, copper, and platinum-group elements. Development of this region could provide a large share of America’s reserves of these materials.
In January 2022, two longstanding mineral leases held by Twin Metals Minnesota were canceled by the Biden administration. The following year, Interior Secretary Deb Haaland signed Public Land Order (PLO 7917), which withdrew more than 225,000 acres from federal mineral leasing for two decades.
Supporters of reversing these actions argue that they disregarded years of environmental review as well as feedback from lawmakers, local communities, industry stakeholders, and union workers who supported continued development.
The resolution passed under the Congressional Review Act would remove PLO 7917 but does not mandate any specific project; it would allow environmental reviews to proceed as required.
