House GOP threatens Interior with subpoena over mining — again

By Hannah Northey | 10/15/2024 04:16 PM EDT

Republican lawmakers say the administration is not turning over enough documents.

Rep. Pete Stauber (R-Minn.) speaking.

Rep. Pete Stauber (R-Minn.), chair of the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources, is one of Congress' most outspoken mining industry boosters. Francis Chung/POLITICO

House Natural Resources Committee Republicans on Tuesday doubled down on a threat to subpoena the Interior Department for information around the Biden administration’s decision to scrap mining leases in mineral-rich Minnesota.

Chair Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) and his colleagues — Reps. Pete Stauber of Minnesota and Paul Gosar of Arizona — accused top Interior officials of failing to respond to their questions around the cancellation of leases tied to the proposed Twin Metals mine in the state’s Iron Range.

The committee has sent three similar letters in recent months, which the lawmakers said received “either an inadequate response or no response at all.”

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The latest missive to Interior Secretary Deb Haaland and Bureau of Land Management Director Tracy Stone-Manning said, “The Committee is no longer willing to allow DOI or BLM to stonewall our investigation.”

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