The Superior National Forest Restoration Act of 2025 would overturn a January 2023 federal order that restricted mineral leasing in the Superior National Forest in Minnesota. The bill would reinstate and reissue mineral leases, preference right leases, and prospecting permits that were canceled between January 2021 and the bill's enactment, allowing mining companies to resume or begin mineral exploration and extraction activities in the forest. To expedite mining development, the legislation requires federal agencies to complete environmental and regulatory reviews—including National Environmental Policy Act assessments—within strict timelines: 18 months for initial mine plans and 6 months for supplemental reviews and permit issuance. The bill also mandates that preference right lease applications rejected since January 2021 be approved within 5 days of enactment, and it shields reissued leases and permits from legal challenges. This legislation affects mining companies and their operations in Minnesota's Superior National Forest, and while no specific appropriations are mentioned, it removes bureaucratic barriers to mineral development on federal land.
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