Photo by iStock/SamWagnerTimelapse
People are drawn to the Boundary Waters Wilderness because of its 1 million acres of wildlands, 1,000 pristine lakes and streams, 1,500 miles of canoe routes, and unlimited opportunities to enjoy the outdoors. Unfortunately, the sulfide-ore mining industry has other ideas for these remote Minnesota lands and waters.
A vast sulfide-ore copper nickel mine is being proposed on federal lands right next to and draining into the Boundary Waters. This proposal -- and others like it -- threaten public lands, clean water, and downstream communities. Toxic sulfide-ore mining has never been done in this area and could forever pollute it. Now we have an opportunity to act! The U.S. Forest Service has released an assessment recommending a 20-year ban on sulfide-ore copper-nickel mining on 225,000 acres of federal land surrounding the Boundary Waters, and is taking public comments until August 31, 2022.
Sulfide mining releases a toxic mix of sulfuric acid and heavy metals. It is unacceptably risky in the water-rich environment of Northeastern Minnesota, where it could contaminate rivers and groundwater for hundreds of years. Sulfide-ore mining endangers drinking water and treaty-protected rights, including waters that grow wild rice -- an essential spiritual, economic, and cultural resource for the Anishinaabe (Ojibwe) people (1). That's why we must stand with northern Minnesota's downstream communities, tribal leaders, businesses, and concerned residents in confronting the threat of toxic sulfide mining throughout the region.
We worked with partners to secure a huge victory in 2016 towards shutting down proposed mining near the Boundary Waters. But the Trump administration reversed course at the 11th hour, as a result of dirty backroom deals with the sulfide mining industry (2). Now the Biden administration has an opportunity to do the right thing: listening to the science and the voice of the people.
Sources:
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"How wild rice has sustained the Ojibwe people" by Jessica Milgroom, MinnPost, 7/27/2020.
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"Feds reopen forests near Boundary Waters to mining" by Dan Kraker, MPR News, 9/6/2018