WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) introduced legislation that would protect the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) from the threat posed by sulfide mining in the surrounding watershed. The Boundary Waters Wilderness Protection Act would permanently prohibit new sulfide ore mining on 225,504 acres of federal forest land in the Rainy River watershed, which drains into the BWCAW.
“The Boundary Waters must be protected for today, and future generations. The impartial science and data show unequivocally that copper-nickel sulfide mining poses an unacceptable risk to the Boundary Waters.
“Mining is an important driver of Minnesota’s economy and the pride of every Iron Ranger. I support mining, but not this mine in this precious place. Majorities of Minnesotans oppose mining in the watershed of the Boundary Waters. I am prepared to fight with every tool I have to protect one of America’s greatest wilderness areas,” said Senator Smith.
“The Boundary Waters is a symbol of the very best of what America’s public lands have to offer — natural beauty, economic stability, recreation, expansive habitat, accessibility, clean air and water, and much more,” said Ingrid Lyons, Executive Director of Save the Boundary Waters. “Senator Smith has shown unwavering leadership and commitment to the interests of Minnesotans by introducing The Boundary Waters Wilderness Protection Act. This bill is the first in nearly half a century in the U.S. Senate that broadly protects the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. With this historic legislation, Senator Smith is standing on the shoulders of giants and following in the footsteps of a host of Minnesotan and National leaders who have stepped up to protect this sacred and unique place. Senator Smith’s bill is a critical step toward permanent protection for this iconic landscape, safeguarding its natural beauty, wildlife, unique ecosystem, and the outdoor economy that depends on it.”
The Boundary Waters is a 1,090,000-acre lake-land wilderness in Superior National Forest of Northern Minnesota enjoyed by more than 150,000 visitors every year, making it one of the most-visited wildernesses in the U.S. The unique, pristine beauty of the Boundary Waters contributes to the robust local recreation industry that employs 22% of workers in St. Louis, Cook, and Lake Counties and contributes $77 million to the local economy annually. The BWCAW sits adjacent to Minnesota’s only National Park, Voyageurs.
Senator Smith has long pushed for a comprehensive, transparent, science-driven process for assessing the environmental impacts associated with mineral development. After years of her advocacy, a Secretarial order protecting the BWCAW from copper-sulfide mining for up to 20 years was issued in January 2023, a historic step in ensuring the pristine Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness was protected from toxic sulfide-ore run-off. But without permanent protection, this pristine wilderness will be subjected to further political interference, as was the case during the first Trump administration.
This bill would not ban or otherwise restrict existing or potential mining projects in Minnesota outside the withdrawal area in the Rainy River Watershed. It would not affect any of the taconite mines in Minnesota.
Supporting Minnesota organizations of Senator Smith’s Boundary Waters Wilderness Protection Act include Save the Boundary Waters, Conservation Minnesota Voter Center, Sportsmen for the Boundary Waters and the Minnesota chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers. Statements of support for the bill can be found here.
A one-page description of the bill can be found here.
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