McCollum Statement on Public Lands Order Protecting Boundary Waters from Sulfide-Ore Copper Mining Pollution
Secretary Deb Haaland Issues Decision Finalizing Mineral Withdrawal After Environmental Assessment Shows Risk of Harm to BWCAW
Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn.) released the following statement today in response to Sec. Deb Haaland's formal Public Lands Order [#]:
"Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland has signed a Public Land Order today officially withdrawing more than 225,000 acres from mineral leasing – a move that will protect the Boundary Waters, which sits within the Rainy River watershed, from the dangers of toxic sulfide-ore mining pollution and will preserve America's most visited wilderness area for the next generation.
"The freshwater in this area is pristine, and contamination from heavy metals and sulfuric acid from mine tailings would cause irreparable harm that would quickly spread through the Boundary Waters' 1.1 million acres of interconnected lakes and streams. This would damage the unique wildlife, hurt the region's tourism industry and recreation-based economy, and preclude hundreds of thousands of visitors from Minnesota and across the country from enjoying this wilderness. Once damaged, it cannot be restored.
"I applaud Sec. Haaland for this action, which is an enormous step in safeguarding the Boundary Waters. Unfortunately, it can be reversed by another administration, which is why I am committed to reintroducing the Boundary Waters Wilderness Protection and Pollution Prevention Act in the 118th Congress to continue working to protect this national treasure in perpetuity."
Background:
A mineral withdrawal was proposed in 2016 under the Obama administration, then canceled under the Trump administration after it abruptly canceled the Environmental Assessment that would show mining's impacts on the wilderness. Last summer, the Biden administration released its own draft Environmental Assessment demonstrating that sulfide-ore copper mining in this watershed would pose a significant threat to the Boundary Waters. Today's decision comes after the Environmental Assessment was finalized, delivered to the Bureau of Land Management, and presented to Sec. Deb Haaland for a decision.
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