Campaign Updates

One of Twin Metals’ state mineral leases was canceled - what does this mean for the Boundary Waters?

Sep 14, 2026
Save the Boundary Waters
One of Twin Metals’ state mineral leases was canceled - what does this mean for the Boundary Waters?

On Friday, September 11, 2026, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MN DNR) notified Twin Metals Minnesota that one of its State Mineral Lease (MM-9455-N) would be cancelled effective November 10, 2026 because Twin Metals Minnesota did not fulfill the terms of the lease. 

The terms of the lease are straightforward:

  • That a company must be actively engaged in mining ore under the lease at issue and paid to the state at least $100,000 in earned royalty under a metallic minerals lease (to be paid during a single calendar year).

The lack of these fulfillments provided the DNR with the authority to cancel it. The cancellation of this lease is a routine regulatory decision by the DNR relating to the enforcement of a state lease for failure to fulfill the terms of the lease. 

Read more on the specifics about the lease below.

Why does this matter? 

This action follows the August 18, 2026, signing of Executive Order 26-10, which directed the MN DNR, among additional actions, to strictly scrutinize state sulfide-ore copper mining leases in the Rainy River Watershed and to enforce compliance with lease terms to the fullest extent the law allows – the cancellation of this lease is an example of the DNR scrutinizing mining leases and enforcing lease terms. 

Does the cancellation of this lease stop the Twin Metals mine?

Does the cancellation of this lease stop the Twin Metals mine?

No. Canceling state lease MM-9455-N does not stop "the Twin Metals mine.” The proposed Twin Metals mine site would be located at the largest of the four deposits, the Maturi Deposit, and the state lease in question is more than 4 miles away. It does overlap a small portion of a different, smaller deposit, but Twin Metals is not currently asking to mine that deposit. 

About the lease

Twin Metals currently holds dozens of state mineral leases. Only this canceled lease (MM-9455-N) was eligible for cancellation this year. The lease states:

The state may cancel this [L]ease as provided in paragraph 30 if the lessee [i]is not … both actively engaged in mining ore under this [L]ease … [and has not] paid to the state at least $100,000 in earned royalty under a metallics minerals lease … during a single calendar year. 

Lease requirements are also included in Minn. R. Chapter 6125.0700 (FORM OF LEASE), Sec. 31, and state that a company must be actively engaged in mining ore under the lease, and paid to the state at least $100,000 in earned royalty under a metallic minerals lease. This amount must be paid during a single calendar year. Twin Metals has done neither of these things.

The cancellation of the lease is effective November 10, 2026.