Minnesota’s Water Is Worth Protecting 

a northern MN lake with trees

Tell the DNR your concerns about the proposed Talon Nickel Mine 

Talon Metals wants to build Minnesota’s first nickel mine near Tamarack in Aitkin County, about 50 miles west of Duluth. The proposed mine sits in a landscape of wetlands, lakes, rivers, and groundwater that feed both the Mississippi and St. Croix watersheds. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is now reviewing permit application materials for the project. Talon’s project will set a precedent for future nickel mining permits and determine how our state agencies will act to protect clean water, communities, and natural resources for generations to come. 

This isn’t just a northern Minnesota issue, people across the state have a stake in what happens here and many are raising concerns, including: 

  • What happens at Talon Mine won’t stay at Tamarack. Water flowing from the mine site connects to the Mississippi and St. Croix River watersheds, meaning pollution could affect communities, fish, wildlife, and drinking water far downstream. 
  • The risks could outlast the mine itself. Hard-rock mining can create pollution that lasts for decades-to-centuries after mining ends, leaving our kids, grandkids, and beyond to deal with the consequences. 
  • Water pollution is one of the biggest risks of hard-rock mining. Exposing sulfide rock to air and water can create sulfuric acid, leading to contamination that can spread through connected waters long after a mine closes. 
  • Surface water and groundwater are interconnected. The mine would require pumping large amounts of groundwater during construction and operation, which could affect private wells, wetlands, peatlands, lakes, and streams that communities rely on. 
  • Fish, wild rice, and outdoor traditions are on the line. Mining may increase conditions that convert existing mercury into methylmercury, a form that builds up in all sorts of aquatic life, including fish Minnesotans regularly catch and eat. Sulfate pollution from mining threatens Manoomin (wild rice), an important ecological resource and a sacred cultural resource for Ojibwe people. 
  • Treaty rights and cultural places matter. The proposed mine sits within the 1855 Treaty area and near waters where Ojibwe people still hunt, fish, gather, and harvest Manoomin. Those rights and traditions deserve to be protected, and the state has a legal obligation to do so. 
  • This decision will set the standard for future mining in Minnesota. As the state’s first proposed nickel mine, Talon could shape how future projects are reviewed and how well Minnesota protects its water, communities, and natural resources for generations to come. 

      Now it’s your turn to speak up about the proposed Talon Nickel Mine 

      Submit a comment to the DNR and tell them what matters to you.

      • Tell them your story.  
      • Share your concerns. 
      • Close with a clear request: Tell the DNR what you would like them to evaluate, study, or protect before making a decision. 

        Use the CURE template below to start your comment, edit as you like, or write from scratch. CURE will submit comments directly to the DNR portal by the end of the comment window. The comment window closes on Monday, September 14, 2026 at 4:30 pm CT, so comment soon to make sure this is timely submitted and considered. 

        Every comment becomes part of the public record and helps shape what the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on the Talon Mine must evaluate. 

        You may also submit your comment directly to the DNR here. https://mndnr.commentinput.com/?id=6eAPuQKx2b  

        Every comment submitted becomes a permanent part of the official public record, including commenters’ names and email or postal address, and may be reviewed by decision-makers, agencies, and the public. CURE will not submit comments you give us that appear to be threatening or profane. 

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        Kelsey Olson

        Kelsey Olson

        Director of Environmental Stewardship

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        Kelsey Olson (she/her) joined CURE in 2025 as its Director of Environmental Stewardship. As a skilled environmental naturalist, Kelsey’s work focuses broadly on environmental education and advocacy with a keen focus on rural land use and how that use impacts our environment and climate. Working Lands, how land is used to support agriculture and forestry, is a key focus of her work. She brings 15 years’ experience in public communication, environmental education, and rural community engagement – strong communication strategies are core in her work. This includes two terms of service with AmeriCorps in the VISTA program in Oregon and Maryland and a nearly 10-year career as a naturalist followed. She recently worked on communications and marketing for rural economic development.

        Kelsey lives in New London, MN, with her young children, husband, dog, and two cats. They enjoy spending time together outside and finding small treasures in nature. Visits to Minneapolis often include visits to one of their favorite historical museums, the American Swedish Institute. Kelsey enjoys experimenting in the kitchen, canning local produce, and making kombucha.