Letters from an American February 22, 2026
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Feb 23, 2026 Discussion of the fight over mining near the Boundary Waters and why descendants of Theodore Roosevelt oppose Twin Metals. Description of the region’s ecology, visitor economy, and historical protections. Coverage of sulfide copper mining risks, political efforts to reopen mining, and the use of the Congressional Review Act to challenge a 2023 land withdrawal.
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Boundary Waters' Unique Environmental and Economic Value
- The Boundary Waters is a uniquely vulnerable and heavily visited wilderness linking over 1 million acres and 150 miles of border lakes and forests.
- Heather Cox Richardson notes its 250,000 annual visitors, $17 million local recreation impact, and protection history dating to Theodore Roosevelt and the 1964 Wilderness system.
Antofagasta Owner's Political Connections
- Andronico Luksic, owner of Antofagasta, began seeking exclusive leases near the Boundary Waters in 2012 and was blocked in 2016 under Obama.
- After Trump's 2016 win Luksic bought a D.C. mansion later rented by Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner, tying the company to political connections.
Haaland Withdrawal Versus Twin Metals' Safety Claim
- In 2023 Interior Secretary Deb Haaland used a public land order to withdraw 350 square miles upstream from Boundary Waters for 20 years after a Forest Service review found mining could cause irreparable damage.
- Twin Metals disputes the science, claiming design methods can limit ore exposure and prevent acid drainage.