What to Know About Talon Metals’ Planned Mine in Minnesota
June 22, 2023
Talon Metals on Wednesday submitted its plan for an underground nickel and copper mine in Aitkin County to Minnesota regulators, launching the environmental review of a project that could become a domestic source of metals for electric vehicles but has also drawn skepticism from the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe.
While the submission is just the first phase of what could be a lengthy process, it’s nevertheless a milestone for Talon and what it calls the Tamarack Nickel Project. It’s also a new chapter in a long and thorny debate between those who fear possible water pollution and those eyeing potential job creation in what would be a new industry in Minnesota.
The federal government has stopped two potential copper-nickel mines in Minnesota this year alone, saying the risk of contamination was too great for the projects to be built. Those two projects have become national political issues with complicated politics in Minnesota that divides DFLers and frequent allies like trades unions and environmental nonprofits.