Forest Service Won’t Commit to Review of Boundary Waters Mine

The US Forest Service doesn’t have plans to complete a further review of a proposed copper-nickel mine near Minnesota’s Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, an agency official told lawmakers.

Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz said Tuesday the agency hasn’t determined its next steps for approving the proposed Twin Metals Minnesota LLC mine after Congress in April lifted a moratorium on mining in the area. Schultz spoke at a Senate Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry Committee oversight hearing.

Sen. Tina Smith (D-Minn.) said the Forest Service is required to evaluate the impacts of the proposed mine and asked Schultz if the agency ...