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McCollum Statement on Congressman Emmer’s Anti-BWCA Bill

October 3, 2017

Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn.) released the following statement on the MINER Act, legislation introduced by Congressman Tom Emmer that paves the way for dangerous mining adjacent to Minnesota's Boundary Waters:

"Congressman Emmer's bill is an all-out attack on our nation's most visited wilderness — the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. It allows a South American mining conglomerate to conduct dangerous sulfide-ore mining next to this pristine national treasure. It terminates a careful, science-based review and public input process assessing the risks of mining in this area. And it undercuts basic environmental and public lands laws, including the century-old Antiquities Act.

"Claims that this bill will protect the BWCA are false. Make no mistake: Congressman Emmer's bill paves the way for toxic pollutants to flow throughout the Rainy River watershed and poison the Boundary Waters forever."