Mining & Environmental

Closures Begin As Wildfire Burns In BWCAW

The Superior National Forest said a 20 to 30 acre wildfire continues to burn in the Boundary Water Canoe Area Wilderness Thursday. The fire broke out this week near Pike Lake about 10 miles away…

Canadian Wildfire Smoke Gives Minnesota City The Worst Air In The US

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — St. Paul had the worst air quality in the United States on Wednesday as smoke from massive Canadian wildfires drifted across Minnesota a week after similar smoke blanketed the northeastern U.S. The smoke was “near the worst”…

Wildfire In BWCA Being Monitored, Officials Say

BOUNDARY WATERS CANOE ARE, Minn. (FOX 9) - The U.S. Forestry Service says about 30 acres of the Boundary Water Canoe Area are currently burning. The fire is between Spice Lake and Ogishkemuncie Lake. The fire is being monitored, and at the…

Burning Restrictions To Start Wednesday For Northeast Minnesota

MINNESOTA -- The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources says burning restrictions will begin for Northeast Minnesota Wednesday at 12:01 a.m. The restrictions are for Carlton, Cook, Lake, and St. Louis counties. Below is part of a press release: Burning permits…

Chemical Safety Board Releases New Video Of 2018 Superior Refinery Explosion, Fire

SUPERIOR, Wis. - A new 20-minute video has been released by the Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board involving the 2018 Husky refinery explosion and fire in Superior. The goal of the board is to…

Army Corps Pulls Key Permit For Copper-Nickel Mine Near Hoyt Lakes

A key permit for a proposed copper-nickel mine near Hoyt Lakes, known as the NorthMet Project, has been revoked by the Army Corps of Engineers. The announcement was made Tuesday in a 27-page report. The…

Restoration Project To Revive Forest Along St. Louis River Underway

DULUTH, Minn. -- A restoration project is underway to revive forest along the St. Louis River that's dying from an Emerald Ash Borer outbreak from a decade ago. The work is happening along the shorelines…

5.6 Megawatt Solar Project Unveiled On Iron Range

HOYT LAKES, Minn. -- Another step toward more solar energy took place on the Iron Range Friday. Minnesota Power unveiled and showed-off the second of its three new solar projects. This one is near Hoyt…

Minnesota Plans Rewrite Of Rules For Copper-Nickel Mining Near Popular Wilderness

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota regulators have concluded that state rules governing where copper-nickel mines can be built are insufficient to protect the pristine Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness from noise and light pollution, creating another potential obstacle to…

Duluth's "Other" Train Back on Tracks in July

The Lake Superior & Mississippi Railroad will soon be back on the tracks. It looks a little quiet right now, but things will definitely be picking up as they get ready to reopen in…

Alpacas Line Up For Annual Shearing Day At Frosty Ridge

DULUTH, Minn. -- Shearing day at the Frosty Ridge Alpacas farm was another busy one Wednesday. Around 80 alpacas showed up to get all that winter fiber buzzed away for the summer months. FOX 21…

Trapping Begins for Spongy Moths in Northeastern MN

NORTHEASTERN, Minn. --As temperatures warm up and summer gets underway, it also brings some big problems. The trapping of spongy moths has begun in Minnesota. Formerly known as gypsy moths, they have been wreaking havoc on trees for years. Northeastern…