House GOP Responds to Walz Admin’s Attempt to Ban Mining

ST. PAUL – Following Governor Walz’s Executive Order banning nonferrous mining mining in the Iron Range, House GOP Floor Leader Harry Niska, R-Ramsey, and Iron Range Representative Spencer Igo, R-Wabana Township, released the following statement.

“Governor Walz acting like a king and arbitrarily shutting down an entire industry on the Iron Range less than five months before he leaves office shows that he doesn’t actually care about the people of Northern Minnesota,” said Niska. “Removing any opportunity for these mining projects to even start through Minnesota’s incredibly rigorous environmental review and permitting process is short-sighted will damage the fragile economy in Northern Minnesota. Iron Rangers deserve better.”

Igo added, “We have the ability to lead the world in safe, reliable mining. We have the best mining regulations in the country, and yet Governor Walz still says his own agencies aren’t allowed to even use them. Governor Walz and our state agencies work for Minnesotans, but this executive order requires them to disregard the needs of every Minnesotan who relies on our mining industry. This is virtue signaling at its finest and northern Minnesota communities will suffer because of it.”