Mining

Rio Tinto/Kennecott/Talon Metals Mining Company (Talon) has been drilling core samples 1.5 miles north of Tamarack, MN since 2000 to assess the potential for copper/nickel mining in the Big Sandy Watershed (Figure 1).  This testing found there were high grade nickel deposits on the site. Based on these findings, Talon has proceeded to the preliminary planning stage for the mining operation. Initial plans were to mine the ore and mill it on site. Current plans are for only the ore extraction to be on site with the ore to be shipped by rail to a site in North Dakota for milling.

The proposed extraction site would be located on an 83-acre site just north of Tamarack (Figure 2) . Talon initiated the permitting process for the mine development in the summer of 2023 with submittal of their Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MDNR). This initial step in the environmental review process is expected to be completed in the summer of 2024. Upon completion of the EAW process, Talon would begin work on the Environmental Impact Statement. The EAW and the MDNR comments on the EAW can be found at:

https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/input/environmentalreview/tamarack-nickel-project.html

The EAW contains the most up to date description of the proposed site, its operation, and waste treatment methods to be used.

Because a key objective of BSLA is “To advocate practices that protect and improve water quality,” BSLA’s position on potential mining in the watershed is to support stringent standards for wastewater discharge, proper solid waste storage and disposal, and establishment of financial resources to pay for remediation of future environmental problems that may develop.  BSLA’s final position on the development of a mine will depend on the adequacy of both the proposed environmental management at site and the State’s permitting requirements.