PROPOSED TAMARACK MINE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT

By Chief Executive Melanie Benjamin

The submission of the Tamarack Mine draft environmental assessment worksheet to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources will provide a long-awaited opportunity for the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe to review and evaluate a detailed proposal for the project.

This is the beginning of a long environmental review process. The Band is committed to coordinating closely with the State of Minnesota to conduct a thorough evaluation of potential impacts and ensure that our land, water, wild rice, and people are protected. As a sovereign nation, the Mille Lacs Band must have an equal voice in this process and is entitled to equal protection. There is much at stake; the proposed mine would be located just 1.3 miles from our communities and has the potential to impact our forever home and critical environmental and cultural resources. The Band supports transitioning to a green economy, but in a way that does not cause further harm. Earlier this year, the Band launched Water Over Nickel to ask Minnesota leaders and regulators to prioritize fresh water over nickel, and we expect all state and federal agencies to act in the best interest of tribes as part of the federal trust responsibility.

The Minnesota DNR has launched a new webpage to update all Minnesotans on the progress of the proposal. It can be found at https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/input/environmentalreview/tamarack-nickel-project.html