Wnited States Senate WASHINGTON, DC 20510 December 13, 2018 Mr. Michael Nedd Acting Director Bureau of Land Management 1849 C Street, NW ‘Wastiington, DC 20240 Dear Mr. Nedd: We write to respectfully request that the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) provide sufficient time for a public comment period following the retease of an Environmental Assessment (EA) related to the renewal application for two mineral [cases (MNES-01352 and MNES-01353) located within the Superior National Forest in Northeastern Minnesota. On December 22, 2017, the Department of the Interior issued a revised opinion on Twin Metals Minnesota's application to renew preference right leases. The opinion conefuded that ‘Twin Metals Minnesota is entitled to a third renewal of the original 1966 leases and that the BLM does not have the discretion to deny the renewal application. Accordingly, we ask that upon issuance of the proposed EA for the renewal of the two mineral leases, the BLM grant a public comment period of at least 60 days in order to ensure that interested parties have adequate time and opportunity to submit their views to the BLM, ‘Thank you for your attention to this important matter. Sincerely, Amy rar wha United StatésSenate ‘United States Senate CC: Mr. Joseph Balash, Assistant Secretary, Land and Minerals Management, United States Department of the Interior