MINNEAPOLIMEDIA NEWS | Minnesota Opens Public Review of Proposed Tamarack Nickel Mine, With Blaine Meeting Scheduled for August

ST. PAUL, MN (July 19, 2026) Minnesotans now have their first formal opportunity to help shape the environmental review of a proposed underground nickel, copper and iron mine near Tamarack in central Minnesota.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources opened a 60-day public-comment period July 14 on the scoping documents for the Tamarack Mining Project. Comments will be accepted until 4:30 p.m. Monday, September 14.

Talon Nickel (USA) LLC is proposing the mine approximately 1.5 miles north of Tamarack, 10 miles east of McGregor and 30 miles west of Cloquet.

Ore extracted from the underground mine would be processed outside Minnesota at facilities in Mercer County, North Dakota, and Marquette County, Michigan. The resulting metal concentrates would be intended for the domestic battery-supply chain.

Review Does Not Approve the Mine

The current process does not authorize construction or operation.

Instead, the DNR is determining what environmental, economic and community consequences must receive detailed study through an Environmental Impact Statement.

The documents available for review include a Scoping Environmental Assessment Worksheet, which identifies potentially significant effects, and a Draft Scoping Decision Document outlining possible alternatives, studies and additional information needed.

The review may examine water resources, wetlands, wildlife, mining waste, transportation, air quality, Tribal interests, community effects and alternative project designs.

The DNR said it is coordinating with state and federal agencies and Tribal governments throughout the process.

Public Meeting Coming to Blaine

The DNR will hold two public meetings:

• Wednesday, August 5, from 5 to 9 p.m. at McGregor High School, 148 South Second Street, McGregor.
• Wednesday, August 12, from 5 to 9 p.m. at the National Sports Center, 1750 105th Avenue NE, Blaine.

Each meeting will begin with an open house at 5 p.m., followed by an informational presentation at 6 p.m. Verbal public comments will begin at 6:30 p.m. Speakers will be selected randomly and limited to three minutes to accommodate as many participants as possible.

People requiring reasonable accommodations should contact the DNR at 651-259-5677 or EISComments.DNR@state.mn.us by July 22.

How to Comment

Comments may be submitted through the DNR’s online portal or mailed to:

Tamarack EAW Project Manager
Environmental Review Unit
Ecological and Water Resources Division, DNR
500 Lafayette Road
St. Paul, MN 55155-4025

The DNR cautions that comments, names and submitted contact information will become part of the public environmental-review record.

Hard copies of the scoping documents are available at the DNR Library in St. Paul and public libraries in Duluth and Aitkin.

Sources

• Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
• DNR Public Comment Portal

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