Lands and Minerals Division Contacts

Lands and Minerals Division Administration

Lands and Minerals Land Acquisition and Legal Services

The Land Acquisition and Legal Services Section is responsible for handling and completing land acquisitions, land exchanges, land sales, and surface and mineral leases. We also have expertise in handling land and water crossing licenses and easements, as well as performing land and mineral ownership title work.

Land Acquisitions and Appraisals

Greg Heyblom, Appraisal Management Unit Supervisor
Hibbing Office
218-231-8451
[email protected]

Chad McDonald, Land Acquisition Coordinator
Grand Rapids Office
218-328-8924
[email protected]

Land Exchanges

Kate Giel, Program Coordinator 
St. Paul Office
651-259-5377; fax 651-297-3517
[email protected]

Land Surveys

Robert Langner, Survey Unit Manager
1601 Minnesota Drive, Brainerd, MN 56401
218-203-4403
[email protected]

Mineral Operations

Manages and administers mineral leases on State-owned lands. Provides professional mining engineering services to the state. Monitors and ensures the terms of mineral leases are met. Responsible for determining weights and volumes of ore removed from state lands and escalation of royalty rates to calculate mineral royalties due the Permanent School, University and Tax-forfeit Trusts. Promotes technical and entrepreneurial innovation that will stimulate mineral development. Performs mineral economic feasibility studies. Negotiates new and amended mineral leases.

Ted Anderson, Assistant Director
Hibbing Office
218-231-8488; fax 218-262-7328
[email protected]

Mine Permitting, Mineland Reclamation, and Environmental Research

Administers the state's metallic and peat mine permitting and mineland reclamation programs. Issues and manages water appropriation and public waters work permits for mining related activities.  Issues Permits to Mine that are needed before metallic mineral mining operations may start on any land, and before peat operations of greater than 40 acres may begin. Ensures permits include conditions to protect the environment, preserve natural resources, and to plan for future use of the land.  Inspects mining operations to ensure compliance with the permits. Monitors ongoing reclamation, water usage, and environmental protection activities. Conducts environmental research to better understand potential mining impacts and to evaluate new ways to reduce impacts.

Michael Liljegren, Assistant Director
St. Paul Office
651-259-5689; fax 651-296-0445
[email protected]

Jennifer Engstrom, Mineland Reclamation and Research Manager
St. Paul Office
651-259-5385; fax 651-296-5939
[email protected]

Mineral Potential

Advise the DNR on managing the state's mineral estate in the best interest of the Permanent School Trust, University Trust, and Tax Forfeit Trust. Evaluates mineral potential of state lands including industrial minerals such as sand and gravel. Develops and compiles mineral resource information for distribution to the public and mineral exploration companies. Conducts and contracts innovative geologic field work to identify mineral potential areas. Monitors exploratory drilling on state and private lands. 

Heather Arends, Mineral Potential Manager
St. Paul Office
651-259-5376
[email protected]

Drill Core Library

To arrange for a time to visit the DNR Drill Core Library or for explorers who wish to deliver core to the Library please visit the DNR's Drill Core Library webpage. 

Exploration Activities including Drilling

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) and Minnesota Department Natural Resources (DNR) are both involved in regulations to protect the environment during exploration drilling. Listed below are links to the Minnesota Department of Health's (MDH) Well Management Section webpage, as well as, the DNR's nonferrous metallic mineral exploration regulations webpage.

• State Nonferrous Metallic Mineral Leasing
• MDH Well Management Section Explorers and Exploratory Borings
• DNR State Regulations for Nonferrous Metallic Mineral Exploration

Regional Operations

Represents the Lands and Minerals as the point of contact in each region in directing, coordinating, and monitoring land transactions and mineral resource management efforts. For more information and a map of the regions, see the Regional Operations page.

Region 1 - Northwest Minnesota

Cheryl Kelley-Dobie, Regional Operations Supervisor
[email protected]
2115 Birchmont Beach Rd, NE
Bemidji, MN 56601
218-308-2627

Region 2 - Northeast Minnesota

Amy Marrier, Senior Realty Specialist
[email protected]
1201 East Highway 2
Grand Rapids, MN 55744
218-328-8922

Region 3 - Central Minnesota

Joe Rokala, Regional Operations Supervisor
[email protected]
1200 Warner Road
St. Paul, MN 55106
218-328-8923

Region 4 - Southern Minnesota

Benjamin J. Schaefer, Regional Operations Coordinator
[email protected]
21371 State Hwy 15
New Ulm, MN 56073-5228
507-233-1211

Fiscal Management

Ann Rau, Business Manager
St. Paul Office
651-259-5415; fax 651-296-5939
[email protected]

Information Systems

KB Brietzke, MNIT Business Services Supervisor
St. Paul Office
651-539-6051
[email protected]