BABBITT — The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources canceled one of the mineral leases held by Twin Metals Minnesota on Saturday, Sept. 12.
The DNR says the lease, located east of Babbitt near the Dunka mine pit, was canceled following nearly a year of review. At that time, the agency determined the company "has not met the performance and production requirements of the lease."
The DNR did not respond to a request for clarification.
Predecessors of Twin Metals have held the lease since the 1990s. Prior to the cancellation, the lease was held by Twin Metals subsidiary Franconia Minerals.
In a statement of its own, Twin Metals said it was "disappointed" in the decision.
"Twin Metals has invested more than 16 years in extensive exploration, geological, environmental, hydrological and engineering work, doing so in strict accordance with all applicable state and federal regulations," the statement said.
The DNR said the land affected by the mineral lease is "not located within the area that Twin Metals has previously sought to mine."
Last month, an executive action by Gov. Tim Walz halted Twin Metals' efforts to establish a copper-nickel mine in the Rainy River Headwaters Watershed. The executive action banned nonferrous mining in the watershed over concerns about possible pollution to the nearby Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
In a Facebook post Saturday, advocacy group Friends of the Boundary Waters called the decision "an important first step" in protecting the region, noting that it may set a precedent for canceling the remaining leases.
According to the DNR, Franconia Minerals held 17 leases in Lake and St. Louis counties at the start of 2026.
Congressman Pete Stauber stated in a Facebook post Sunday that the decision was "another blow to Northern Minnesota."
"They [the Walz-Flanagan administration] clearly don’t care about good-paying union jobs or the tens of millions in funding that would have gone to every school district in Minnesota," he stated.
The 8th District Republican led several Minnesota leaders in opposition to the mining executive order last month.
The canceled lease will officially end on Nov. 10.
-
Contributed/Michele Jokinen/Minnesota House Public Information ServicesRepublicans selected Sen. Jordan Rasmusson and Rep. Harry Niska as minority leaders for the 2027-28 legislative session, which begins Jan. 12, 2027. -
ContributedWith multiple unsolved missing persons cases, hunters around Beltrami County are also asked to keep an eye out for anything suspicious as they head into the woods. -
Contributed/Pexels via Emre AyataCities like Hibbing and Brainerd saw record-breaking rain and daily low temperatures in early November 2026. -
Contributed/Laura WadstenThe new documentary from Hunterbrook Media investigates the St. Regis Paper Co. Superfund site, a former wood treating facility in Cass Lake, Minnesota. -
Plus: Gov.-elect Klobuchar and Sen.-elect Flanagan hold first press conferences, outlining goals for new roles. -
Lorie Shaull/KAXEA proposal to restrict city employees from serving on the council was postponed until after the election, which returned an affected incumbent and saw a leading proponent lose his mayoral bid. -
Lorie Shaull/KAXEThe Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy is appealing the second city-conducted environmental review for Google's proposed Hermantown data center. -
The Department of Natural Resources will join partners in the area to celebrate Gov. Tim Walz's opener on Thursday, Nov. 5, 2026. -
Lorie Shaull/KAXEThe 0.01% difference between candidates easily meets the criteria for a publicly funded recount. -
Contributed/Nicole Neri / Minnesota ReformerVoters elected at least 10 new Democratic senators, already the largest incoming class of elected first-time Democratic senators in 40 years, with results from Alaska and Mississippi still outstanding.
