Encampment Minerals has asked the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources for permission to drill exploratory borings in the same watershed as the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness as it searches for copper, nickel and other metals.

On Aug. 2, Atlanta-based Encampment Minerals submitted an exploration plan with the DNR detailing its intent to drill into bedrock at four locations within its active state nonferrous metal mineral lease between January and April 2020.

The plans are under review by the DNR, which has 20 days from the Aug. 2 submission to approve or deny Encampment's plan.

The proposed drill sites sit just 6 miles from the edge of the BWCAW and neighbors the location of Twin Metal's proposed copper-nickel mine, a highly contentious underground mine and dry-stacked tailings storage location that opponents argue would pollute the BWCAW downstream with toxic runoff.

Like Twin Metals, Encampment holds state leases throughout the Rainy River Watershed and Superior National Forest. It also holds numerous state leases in the Lake Superior Watershed. Encampment's state leases sit across much of the Duluth Complex, one of the richest, yet untapped, deposits of copper, nickel and other metals in the world.

Beyond mineral exploration, it's unclear what Encampment has planned for Minnesota. An Encampment official could not be reached for comment Friday.

According to the company's plan, drilling would take place in the winter when the ground is frozen. Crews would use existing roads as available but would need to build about 400 feet of new access trail to reach the southernmost drill site and would need to clear vegetation to reach some of the drill sites.

After drilling is complete and a sample is taken, the boring holes would then be sealed in compliance with Department of Health regulations, the report said.

In 2018, the DNR approved Encampment's plans to drill south of Hoyt Lakes and within the St. Louis River Watershed. Encampment has drilled in that area since 2009.

Early this year the DNR approved two separate plans submitted by Twin Metals to drill near Birch Lake, where it's planning an underground mine. Twin Metals has said it could file a formal mine proposal with state regulators later this year.

Last year, PolyMet became the state's first fully permitted copper-nickel mine, though the project still needs to raise almost $1 billion in financing and a court put its water permit on hold. PolyMet, about 15 miles south of Encampment's proposed drill site, sits within the St. Louis River Watershed, which empties into Lake Superior. Critics also fear tainted runoff from PolyMet would pollute the St. Louis River and Lake Superior.

While PolyMet was the first copper-nickel mine to receive a permit, it could be the first of several in northern Minnesota.

Like Encampment, several other companies have made regular exploratory drillings in Minnesota — Teck near Babbitt, Kennecott near Tamarack in Aitkin County, Vermillion Gold near Gilbert and Virginia and AngloGold Ashanti Minnesota throughout St. Louis, Itasca and Koochiching counties.