Boundary Waters Wilderness Protection and Pollution Prevention Act
The Boundary Waters Wilderness Protection and Pollution Prevention Act seeks to permanently protect approximately 225,504 acres of federal land and water in Minnesota's Rainy River Watershed from mining activities. The bill codifies a 2023 mineral withdrawal decision that prohibits sulfide-ore mining (copper, nickel, platinum, palladium, gold, and silver) on federal lands within the Superior National Forest to safeguard the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, Voyageurs National Park, and interconnected waterways. The legislation is driven by concerns that sulfide-ore mining operations produce acid mine drainage—a toxic byproduct that contaminates water with sulfuric acid and heavy metals—which poses an unacceptable risk to pristine waters, wildlife habitat, and the region's tourism economy. The bill allows limited extraction of non-sulfide minerals (sand, gravel, granite, iron ore, and taconite) if deemed non-harmful to water and air quality.
Key Points
- 1Permanent Mineral Withdrawal: Withdraws 225,504 acres in the Rainy River Watershed from all mining activities, entry under mining laws, and mineral leasing operations, making the 2023 administrative withdrawal permanent through legislation.
- 2Acid Mine Drainage Prevention: Specifically targets sulfide-ore mining as a threat, citing peer-reviewed research showing 100% of 14 studied U.S. copper sulfide mines experienced pipeline spills or treatment system failures that contaminated water with sulfuric acid and heavy metals (copper, zinc, lead, cadmium, iron, nickel).
- 3Protection of Multiple Resources: Safeguards the 1.09-million-acre Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (containing nearly 2,000 pristine lakes and 1,200 miles of canoe routes), Voyageurs National Park, and 1,500 cultural sites including historic Ojibwe villages and Native American pictograph sites.
- 4Limited Exceptions for Non-Sulfide Minerals: Permits extraction of sand, gravel, granite, iron ore, and taconite only if the Forest Service Chief determines removal will not harm water quality, air quality, or forest habitat health.
- 5Economic and Treaty Protections: Emphasizes that protecting the watershed would generate 1,500-4,600 additional jobs and $100-900 million in additional income over 20 years through tourism, while honoring the 1854 Treaty of LaPointe rights of three federally recognized Chippewa bands and the 1909 Boundary Waters Treaty with Canada.