Loading....

Urge Congress to pass the Boundary Waters Wilderness Protection and Pollution Prevention Act

Spanning 1.1 million acres, the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) in northern Minnesota is the largest Wilderness east of the Rockies and north of the Everglades. With over 1,000 pristine lakes and 1,200 miles of rivers and streams, the Boundary Waters Wilderness contains some of the cleanest fresh water in the United States.

In spite of this, the mining industry has long eyed the national forest land surrounding the BWCAW for their toxic mining operations—which would come at great expense to clean water and the Wilderness.

Fortunately, in January 2023, the Biden administration issued a 20-year moratorium on sulfide-ore copper mining on national forest land surrounding the BWCAW. This reprieve was thanks in no small part to thousands of our members and supporters who spoke up—yet again—to defend the Boundary Waters Wilderness.

Unfortunately, the mining industry and their supporters in Congress are working hard to reverse this 20-year moratorium. Some local mining supporters have even called for mining within the Boundary Waters Wilderness! And even Trump—on the campaign trail in July 2024—bragged he would reverse the moratorium “in about 10 minutes.”

Thankfully, two members of Congress from Minnesota have introduced legislation to make the 20-year moratorium on sulfide-ore copper mining permanent.

Representative Betty McCollum and Senator Tina Smith have introduced the Boundary Waters Wilderness Protection and Pollution Prevention Act (H.R. 588 and S. 1366) to permanently withdraw federal public lands and minerals within 225,504-acres of the Rainy River watershed from mineral exploration and development. The Rainy River watershed includes much of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and Voyageurs National Park.

Now the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and its pristine waters needs your voice again!

Write your representative and senators urge them to co-sponsor and pass the Boundary Waters Wilderness Protection and Pollution Prevention Act

We just need a few pieces of information to connect you with your representative and senators.

First Name*

Last Name*

Email Address*

Mailing Address*

City*

Country*

State*

Zip Code*

Yes, please keep sending me action alerts and updates from Wilderness Watch

Take Action

Photo: Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness by briandjan607 via flickr

Urge Congress to pass the Boundary Waters Wilderness Protection and Pollution Prevention Act

Your Senators and Representative

Subject: Defend clean water in the Boundary Waters Wilderness

Message:

As your constituent, I’m urging you to co-sponsor and pass the Boundary Waters Wilderness Protection and Pollution Prevention Act (H.R. 588 and S. 1366). This important legislation would make permanent the federal government’s 20-year moratorium on sulfide-ore copper mining on national forest land surrounding the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness enacted in 2023. The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in northern Minnesota is the largest Wilderness east of the Rockies and north of the Everglades. With over 1,000 pristine lakes and 1,200 miles of rivers and streams, the Boundary Waters Wilderness contains some of the cleanest fresh water in the United States. H.R. 588 and S. 1366 would permanently withdraw federal public lands and minerals within 225,504-acres of the Rainy River watershed in from mineral exploration and development. The Rainy River watershed includes much of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and Voyageurs National Park—two crown jewels of America’s Wilderness and national parks system. Please co-sponsor and pass the Boundary Waters Wilderness Protection and Pollution Prevention Act (H.R. 588 and S. 1366) to protect and Boundary Waters and some of the cleanest fresh water in the United States.

Characters remaining:

Urge Congress to pass the Boundary Waters Wilderness Protection and Pollution Prevention Act

Urge Congress to pass the Boundary Waters Wilderness Protection and Pollution Prevention Act

We are not targeting anyone in your area, but you can still help!

Thank you for taking action for the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness!