This is important to us because what’s happening right now in Congress could permanently change protections for a beloved wilderness area. With everything else going on, this quietly moved forward while most people weren’t paying attention and it should concern all of us.
Today, the U.S. House of Representatives voted 214-208 to pass H.J. Res. 140, a resolution that would undo a 20-year ban on mining near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and throughout the surrounding watershed in northern Minnesota. That ban existed for a reason the land drains directly into the Boundary Waters, and protecting it meant protecting clean water, wildlife, and an outdoor economy that thousands of people rely on. To overturn it, the House used the Congressional Review Act (something typically meant for federal rules) in a way many see as dangerous and unprecedented for public lands.
If this becomes law, a mine doesn’t appear overnight, but the door is thrown wide open. It would clear the path for copper-nickel sulfide mining near the Boundary Waters’ headwaters. This kind of mining has a long track record of polluting water through acid mine drainage and heavy metals, damage that can last for generations. Once water is contaminated, there’s no undo button and the Boundary Waters is exactly the kind of place that deserves better.
This fight isn’t over yet. The resolution has now moved to the United States Senate. Senators will decide whether this rollback stands or stops here. That means the pressure point is right now, and it’s federal not at the state level.
Please take a moment to contact your U.S. Senators and urge them to oppose H.J. Res. 140. A short call, email, or message saying you care about clean water, wilderness, and public lands really does matter. If people stay quiet, this will pass quietly. If enough of us speak up, it doesn’t have to.
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