Frequently Asked Questions
Who is behind Water Over Nickel?
Water Over Nickel is an initiative by the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe and allied organizations to protect Minnesota’s people, natural resources, and cultural sites from the negative impact of nickel mining. Our efforts are grounded in our commitment to preserve Minnesota’s natural environment and water resources for generations to come.
Water Over Nickel is a group of organizations and experts dedicated to protecting Minnesota’s water, environment, and communities from the risks associated with nickel mining.
Who is Talon Metals?
Talon Metals, the organization that has proposed the Tamarack Mine, is a base metals and mining organization headquartered in the British Virgin Islands. Talon Metals has partnered with Rio Tinto, an international mining conglomerate headquartered in the United Kingdom and Australia with a track record of environmentally damaging practices.
The proposed site is in Tamarack, Minnesota, just 1.3 miles from Round Lake and the homes of Band members, and in close proximity to the Band’s cultural sites, including Rice Lake and Sandy Lake.
What are the risks associated with the proposed Tamarack Mine?
The proposed Tamarack Mine site is within miles of the homes of the Band’s members and cultural sites, including Rice Lake and Sandy Lake. The environmental impacts of the proposed mine will add yet another stress to the natural environment, Manoomin (wild rice), medicinal plants, and cultural resources that are struggling to survive and adapt to the rapidly changing climate. The sacred medicines used in the Band’s Midewin ceremonies will be damaged, which would prevent Band members from fully practicing their culture and beliefs.
Nickel mining presents a significant threat to the environment. The practice has a consistent track record of impairing water quality in water-rich environments, like the area surrounding the proposed Tamarack Mine site. In nickel mining, metals and material waste are taken from the ground and exposed to water. This can create sulfuric acid, which has the same chemical composition as battery acid and may result in acid mine drainage that would affect not only surface and groundwater supplies, but also aquatic life, plant life, sacred sites, and more.
The proposed nickel mine poses a significant threat to Minnesota’s natural resources and watersheds. The watershed surrounding the proposed Tamarack Mine flows into the Mississippi River and St. Croix watersheds, which puts critical drinking water sources and habitats at risk as well.
Who owns the Tamarack Mine?
The Tamarack Mine is a proposed nickel mine, brought forward by Talon Metals Corp in partnership with Rio Tinto.
Talon Metals is a base metals and mining organization headquartered in the British Virgin Islands. Rio Tinto is an international mining conglomerate headquartered in the United Kingdom and Australia with a track record of environmentally damaging practices.
The proposed site is in Tamarack, Minnesota, just 1.3 miles from Round Lake and the homes of Band members, and in close proximity to the Band’s cultural sites, including Rice Lake and Sandy Lake.
In January 2022, Talon Metals announced a partnership with Tesla, stating that the nickel sourced from the Tamarack Mine would be used to produce electric vehicle batteries. It is not confirmed that there is a signed contract between Talon Metals and Tesla.
Talon has not provided any data to verify its claims of upholding responsible mining practices.
When will the mine be built?
If Talon Metals’ permit is approved, the mine will be constructed and will begin operations in 2026.
Isn’t Talon Metals proposing to process the ore in North Dakota?
Talon Metals’ announcement that it plans to move nickel processing to North Dakota acknowledges the risks that this proposed mine poses to the Band’s community and land.
But a change in location does not eliminate continuing concerns about the impact that a nickel mine, including its extraction and transportation activities, will have on the environment, surrounding communities, and the Band's cultural practices.
There is still a risk that tailings and dust from the mine will damage the water at or near the mining site, in addition to the bodies of water and environments on the route from the mine to the processing facility. Mining is an incredibly invasive process that uses large amounts of water in mining and processing. Dust from tailings could fall off the trucks or train cars while being transported, which may occur over saturated wetlands.
Talon Metals has not provided the public with details on how this will be done safely.
What are the alternatives to nickel mining to support electric vehicle battery production?
While the advancement of alternative energy is critical, nickel mining should never be the first option to advancing a green future. And it is not the only option. Other options exist to source nickel needed in electric vehicle batteries, including metal recycling. Metal recycling is a viable option that has proven successful in Europe, Japan, and China. According to the MN Center for Environmental Advocacy, recycling a ton of nickel produces 90% fewer emissions than mining.
Recycling nickel is one option to reduce the need for environmentally risky mining projects. We’ve seen electric vehicle manufacturers shift away from using cobalt and nickel in battery production due to their limited supply. Manufacturers also experience significant controversy and cost associated with extracting these materials.
We caution against accepting industry narratives seeking to create a false sense of urgency to extract the earth’s resources, particularly when there are long-term environmental risks to consider.
How can I get involved?
We appreciate your support as we work to protect our water and environment from the risks of nickel mining. Learn more about how you can get involved here: