Stauber, House Republicans target environmental groups opposed to Twin Metals

US Congress Launches Investigation into Environmental Groups Opposing Twin Metals Mining Project

A US Congressional committee has launched an investigation into three environmental groups and the Biden administration over alleged "collusion" between them on a ban on mining within the same watershed as the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. The probe seeks evidence of improper relationships between the groups and government officials.

The House Committee on Natural Resources, led by Republicans Pete Stauber, Bruce Westerman, and Paul Gosar, sent letters to the Center for Biological Diversity, Earthjustice, and the Wilderness Society, requesting documents and communications between these groups and Biden's U.S. Forest Service and Department of the Interior.

Environmentalists argue that the investigation is a "power grab" aimed at intimidating citizens who oppose mining in northern Minnesota. Kieran Suckling, executive director of the Center for Biological Diversity, accused the committee of abusing its power and not targeting Twin Metals itself, which has been accused of having close ties to the Biden administration.

Twin Metals' plans to build an underground copper-nickel mine were effectively derailed by the Biden administration's ban on mining within the same watershed as the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. However, the Trump administration has vowed to reverse this decision and return Twin Metals leases.

Suckling pointed out that his organization had met with federal officials at least 18 times during a lawsuit over the matter but claimed it did not have any meetings while the suit was active. He also highlighted Twin Metals' high lobbying expenses and the connections between its executives and prominent figures in the Trump administration, including Ivanka and Jared Kushner.

The investigation appears to be part of an ongoing battle between environmental groups and mining interests in northern Minnesota.

This whole thing is just a huge mess . Like, seriously, what's going on here? You've got these environmental groups doing their job, trying to protect the environment for future generations, and then you've got this Congressional committee launching an investigation into them like they're some kind of enemy. It's just not right.

And let's be real, this is all about the money . Twin Metals is basically a goldmine (no pun intended), and if the administration wants to make some cash off that mine, it'll stop at nothing to silence those environmental groups. But what they're doing is actually quite transparent - these groups have been meeting with government officials, and they've even been working together on lawsuits.

It's like, can't we just have a respectful discussion about this stuff? Can't we agree to disagree without trying to intimidate or undermine each other's efforts? It feels like the committee is more interested in covering their own backsides than actually getting to the bottom of things. And let's not forget that they're not even targeting Twin Metals itself - it's just a convenient scapegoat.

I mean, what's next? Are we going to start investigating every single environmental group for "collusion" or something? It's a slippery slope, and I'm just worried about where this is all heading .

This whole situation is really got me thinking... It's like, what's the real motive behind this investigation? Is it just about 'collusion' or is there something more sinister at play? I mean, Twin Metals has been accused of having close ties to the Trump administration, but now that Biden's in office, they're trying to silence environmental groups who are standing up for the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness...

It's like, what's the value of our voice as citizens when corporations and government officials can just label us 'colluding' or 'power-hungry'? It's all about playing politics and manipulating the narrative to suit their interests. And we're left standing there, wondering if our efforts are even worth it...

I'm worried about this investigation . It seems like a big power play by Republicans to silence environmental groups . I mean, what's wrong with holding up on mining plans that could harm our natural resources? It's not just about Twin Metals, it's about protecting the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness for future generations . The fact that they're investigating three environmental groups and the Biden administration without directly targeting Twin Metals itself raises some serious eyebrows . What's next, an investigation into every single environmental group in the US? It's a slippery slope, if you ask me...

I'm so tired of these Congressional reps trying to silence people who care about the environment . They're basically saying that if you want to protect our natural resources, you have to go against the mining industry . It's not just about Twin Metals, it's about the future of our planet .

I've been following this whole saga with the Center for Biological Diversity and I gotta say, Kieran Suckling is a hero for speaking truth to power . He knows that these groups aren't colluding with each other, they're just fighting for what's right . And yeah, Twin Metals has some shady connections with the Trump admin , but that doesn't mean we should be intimidated into not speaking out .

I'm all about transparency and accountability in our government , but this investigation feels like a fishing trip to me . They're trying to pin something on these environmental groups without actually targeting Twin Metals themselves . It's just another example of the power struggle between special interests vs. ordinary people .

I'm literally shaking my head over this one ... like what's next? Investigating every single group that speaks out against something big corporations want to do? It just seems like a classic case of the fox guarding the henhouse . I mean, come on, environmental groups are just trying to protect our planet for future generations. Don't get me wrong, transparency is important and all, but this feels like a huge overreach from Congress . And can we talk about the hypocrisy here? Twin Metals has been super active in lobbying efforts... that's not what I'd call "collusion" . Anyway, it just makes me so frustrated .

So now we're supposed to believe that these "collusion" allegations are a thing? Meanwhile, I'm over here watching Twin Metals' lobby spend millions on "influencing" politicians... Like, how many times do you have to meet with people before it's not just coincidence? And honestly, can't the Reps just focus on the science behind this whole mining fiasco instead of trying to silence the voices of those who are actually fighting for conservation?

OMG, like seriously?! A full-on probe into environmental groups who are just trying to protect our wilderness areas? It's so not on! The US Congress is basically playing politics with people's lives and the environment. I mean, can't they see that this mine could have devastating effects on the ecosystem?

And what's with the whole "collusion" thing? Is it because these groups are fighting back against corporate interests who want to destroy our natural beauty for profit? It's like, we're not just talking about mining here, we're talking about people's right to live in a healthy and sustainable environment.

I'm so over this power grab by the Republicans. Can't they see that they're playing into the hands of their corporate donors? The Center for Biological Diversity, Earthjustice, and the Wilderness Society are just trying to do what's right, and now they're being accused of colluding with each other?

This whole investigation is just a bunch of smoke and mirrors. I hope people wake up and see through this attempt to silence environmental activists. We need more transparency and accountability from our government officials, not less!

this is getting outta hand lol , like, can't they just have a debate without throwing around accusations? these groups are fighting for our planet's future, same as the miners... shouldn't we be supporting them instead of investigating each other? and btw, what's with all these ties to the Trump admin? is it really necessary to bring that up?

this whole thing is so weird, like what's really going on here? so these enviro groups are just trying to protect a national park from being destroyed by some greedy mining company, and the gov is all like "hey we're investigating you for colluding" it sounds like they're just making excuses for why they won't let the mine go through. and what's with the "power grab" comment? does that even make sense? like isn't the gov supposed to be doing its job?

Ugh I cant even believe this is happening !!! These repubs are literally trying to silence all the activists who care about our planet for future generations... like they think its just a "power grab" or somethin . But honestly its so much more than that, its like theyre tryna erase all the progress made on protecting our environment... I mean what even is the point of having an investigation if not to cover their own tracks? and dont even get me started on Twin Metals, those people are literally polluters incarnate . And yet the repubs still wanna give them a free pass because of some connections with the trump admin? No thanks ... I just hope all these activists keep fightin for what they believe in, cuz its getting way too late for the repubs to turn things around .

This is gonna get messy... I mean, who needs more drama? These Reps are just trying to stir up trouble by launching a probe into environmental groups that are opposing the Twin Metals project . It's like they're trying to intimidate those people who care about preserving the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. I'm not buying it - this investigation is just another power grab, and it's gonna set a bad precedent for more investigations in the future .

And what really gets my goat is that Twin Metals' execs have super close ties to the Trump administration... like, Ivanka and Jared Kushner? That's some serious cronyism right there . It's no wonder the Biden admin derailed those plans - they didn't want any part of that corrupt mining operation .

But let's be real, this investigation is just a distraction from the real issues at hand... like how the government can't even protect our national parks and wildlife refuges for real .

omg u guys i cant believe dis so the gov is launchin an investigation into these eco orgs just cuz they r talkin out against a mining project like whats wrong with speakin up for the planet?? twin metals is basically tryna dig up our wilderness and pollute the water supply... no thanks!!! i think its pretty suspicious that twin metals has so many ties to the trump admin and now the bidens but u guess whatevs the eco orgs rnt even collusin with each other they just wanna protect the environment we need more ppl like them speakin out against these kinds of projects

I think this is a total power play by the Repubs! They're trying to silence these eco-groups who are just trying to protect our natural resources . I mean, what's wrong with having some dialogue between the gov't and these groups? It sounds like they're trying to bully them into doing their bidding . And btw, Twin Metals' connections to the Trump admin is sketchy at best . It's not about protecting the environment, it's about lining pockets with gold !

I mean come on... this investigation is just another example of how politicians love to create drama where none exists. The real issue here is the mining project's impact on the environment, not some alleged "collusion" between environmental groups and the government . According to a study by the Environmental Defense Fund, 70% of copper-nickel mines in the US have contaminated groundwater sources .

Here are some stats:

* 95% of residents in northern Minnesota support protecting the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness
* The Twin Metals project would release over 4.6 million tons of copper into the environment, equivalent to about 1/3 of the entire US copper production
* Since 2010, mining companies have spent over $150 million lobbying politicians in Minnesota

It's time for our lawmakers to focus on finding real solutions rather than chasing after environmental groups . Let's get back to fact-based discussions and not spread misinformation .

This whole thing is super shady. Like, if they're really looking for evidence of collusions, why not investigate Twin Metals themselves? They've got some serious skeletons in their closet. The fact that the Republicans are leading this charge is pretty obvious – it's all about silencing those who dare to speak out against mining.

I mean, I get it, environmental groups have been vocal about opposing this project, but does that really warrant a full-blown investigation? It seems like they're just trying to intimidate people into being quiet. The fact that the Biden administration banished the mine is a huge deal, and now it's all about finding dirt on those who opposed it...

Ugh, I'm getting so tired of all these investigations and power struggles . Can't we just have a civil conversation about our differences? Like, what's up with the Republican Committee on Natural Resources sending out letters like that? It feels like they're trying to bully those environmental groups instead of having a genuine discussion .

And can we talk about the lack of transparency in this whole thing? I mean, I've seen some sketchy stuff go down between corporations and government officials, but this just seems so shady . What's really going on here? Why are they investigating those environmental groups instead of Twin Metals itself? It just feels like a classic case of "us vs them" .

I'm all for good governance and accountability, but can't we do better than this? Can't we have a more constructive conversation about our values and priorities?

This whole thing just seems so suspicious. I mean, what's really going on here? It sounds like the Repubs are trying to stir up trouble to discredit these environmental groups. And why now? Just as the Biden admin was about to block the Twin Metals mine, out of the blue they launch an investigation.

I'm not saying there isn't any wrongdoing, but this investigation just feels like a classic case of "let's make some noise". What's really at stake here is the environment and the lives of people living in northern Minnesota. I'd love to see more evidence before we start jumping to conclusions.

And have you seen Twin Metals' lobbying expenses? It's mind-boggling! Maybe they're just trying to keep up appearances or something? And what about these "meetings" between the execs and Trump admin folks? That sounds like some serious cronyism. We need more transparency here, not less.

"Those who would give up essential liberty, to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety." The government's investigation into environmental groups just looks like a power play to silence those opposing the Twin Metals Mining Project. It's no wonder critics say it's a "power grab".