The DFL Environmental Caucus applauds the U.S. Army Corps decision Tuesday to revoke the 404 wetlands permit for the NorthMet (formerly PolyMet) copper nickel mine project. The Army Corps rightly agreed with the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa that this already-suspended permit would violate the Band’s water quality standards, threatening the tribal community and others downstream.

The type of sulfide-ore mining that NorthMet would conduct is new to Minnesota, but has a long history of environmental destruction in other states. This ruling supports the claim that this new type of mining cannot currently be safely done in a water rich environment – a major reason that our caucus supports a “Prove it first” approach to copper nickel sulfide mining.

This mine and its toxic waste would threaten the St. Louis River watershed and downstream communities including Fond du Lac and the Twin Ports. The destruction of wetlands that the revoked permit would have allowed would be a climate disaster, reducing Minnesota’s capacity to naturally absorb carbon.

Our DFL platform states that Minnesota should: “Recognize, protect and conserve clean water as a shared resource held in public trust for the health, safety and benefit of the public,” and support “Native American tribes’ rights to self-government.” This decision aligns with those values. As DFLers, we cannot accept the sacrifice of our remaining clean water – already threatened by climate change, PFAS, and other pollution – for this unproven project. Nor can we stand for the violation of tribal sovereignty that would occur if this mine harmed Fond du Lac’s resources.

We thank the Fond du Lac Band for their successful stand against this permit. And we thank all the organizations, scientists, and tens of thousands of ordinary Minnesotans who have fought tirelessly on this issue for clean water and environmental justice.