McCollum Reintroduces Bill to Permanently Protect Boundary Waters from Toxic Mining Pollution

Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn.) released the following statement today after reintroducing the Boundary Waters Wilderness Protection and Pollution Prevention Act, legislation to permanently protect the Boundary Waters watershed from toxic sulfide-ore mining pollution:

"Last week's historic action by Secretary Deb Haaland to officially withdraw more than 225,000 acres of federal lands and waters from mineral leasing is huge and welcome news, ensuring the pristine Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness will remain intact and protected for 20 years," McCollum said. "However, more work remains: these protections must be made permanent – which is why I'm reintroducing the Boundary Waters Wilderness Protection and Pollution Prevention Act for this Congress.

"The Boundary Waters' 1.1 million acres of interconnected lands and streams is an abundant source of fresh water, so clean you can drink directly from it. Its wildlife, dark skies, and quiet are a source of respite and adventure for hundreds of thousands of Americans. Without permanent protection, this special place is subject to political interference, as was the case during the Trump administration. With this bill, I am committed to keep working to protect this national treasure in perpetuity. Some places are simply too precious to mine."

Background:

The Boundary Waters Wilderness Protection and Pollution Prevention Act permanently protects 234,328 acres of federal lands and waters within the Superior National Forest from risky sulfide-ore copper mining, including a plan by a Chilean mining company to extract critical minerals from the Superior National Forest and sell them to China for smelting. This bill is supported by local, regional, and national advocacy groups in favor of permanently protecting these critical resources and preventing the ability of Chinese industries to use these extracted minerals to compete against America economically and on the battlefield.

The bill is focused on sulfide-ore copper mining in the headwaters of the Boundary Waters and Voyageurs National Park.

The legislation:

• Does not limit taconite or iron-ore mining anywhere in the State of Minnesota
• Does not affect sulfide-ore copper mining projects outside the Rainy River Drainage Basin
• Does not interfere with state mineral leasing, state environmental regulations, or state permitting processes

Original cosponsors of the legislation are as follows: Raúl Grijalva (AZ-03), Chellie Pingree (ME-01), Dean Phillips (MN-03), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Jared Huffman (CA-02), Earl Blumenauer (OR-03), Ruben Gallego (AZ-07), Daniel T. Kildee (MI-5), Janice D. Schakowsky (IL-09), Nanette Diaz Barragán (CA-44), Steve Cohen (TN-09), Sean Casten (IL-06), Anna G. Eshoo (CA-18), Jamie Raskin (MD-08), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-AL), Derek Kilmer (WA-06), Gerald E. Connolly (VA-11), Judy Chu (CA-27), Barbara Lee (CA-13), Cori Bush (MO-01), Rashida Tlaib (MI-13), Gwen Moore (WI-04), Ed Case (HI-01), Elissa Slotkin (MI-08), Jerrold Nadler (NY-10), Suzan K. DelBene (WA-01), Jesus G. "Chuy" García (IL-04), Sheila Jackson Lee (TX-18), Andre Carson (IN-07), Julia Brownley (CA-26), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Mike Levin (CA-49), Melanie Ann Stansbury (NM-01), Matt Cartwright (PA-08), James P. McGovern (MA-02), Paul Tonko (NY-20), Ted Lieu (CA-33), John B. Larson (CT-01), Joe Courtney (CT-02), Deborah K. Ross (NC-02), and Adam Schiff (CA-30).

Learn more about the bill at mccollum.house.gov/BoundaryWaters.

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