House Republicans Remove Provision to Reopen Mining in Boundary Waters Watershed

Strategic Insights -

House Republicans have removed a provision from the federal budget bill that would have reopened mining in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness watershed. The amendment, struck by the House Rules Committee, would have ended a 20-year moratorium on mining on 225,000 acres of federal land within the watershed and reinstated leases to Twin Metals, a copper-nickel mining company. The move comes after U.S. Sen. Tina Smith, D-Minn., introduced a bill to make the mineral withdrawal near the BWCAW permanent.

Key Takeaways:

  • The provision in question, Section 80131, aimed to end a 20-year moratorium on mining on 225,000 acres of federal land within the watershed.
  • The moratorium was put in place to protect the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness from potential environmental harm.
  • The amendment removed by the House Rules Committee would have also reinstated leases to Twin Metals, a copper-nickel mining company.
  • U.S. Sen. Tina Smith, D-Minn., introduced a bill to make the mineral withdrawal near the BWCAW permanent after the amendment was struck.
  • U.S. Rep. Pete Stauber, R-Hermantown, and Mining Minnesota expressed disappointment over the removal of the provision.
  • Friends of the Boundary Waters and Campaign to Save the Boundary Waters celebrated the removal of the language.

Statistics:

  • 225,000 acres of federal land within the watershed would have been affected by the moratorium reversal.
  • The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness receives over a million visitors annually.
  • The provision was struck by the House Rules Committee on Tuesday, June 11.
  • Twin Metals is owned by Chilean mining conglomerate Antofagasta.
  • The provision's removal delays establishing a domestic mineral supply chain, according to Mining Minnesota.

Sources:

  • Politico*
  • The News Tribune*
  • Tribune Content Agency*
  • U.S. Sen. Tina Smith's office*
  • U.S. Rep. Pete Stauber's office*
  • Mining Minnesota*
  • Friends of the Boundary Waters*
  • Campaign to Save the Boundary Waters*