Contact:
- Corey Fisher, Public Lands Policy Director at Trout Unlimited, corey.fisher@tu.org
- John Lenczewski, Executive Director at Minnesota Trout Unlimited, john.lenczewski@mntu.org
- Zoe Bommarito, National Communications Director at Trout Unlimited, zoe.bommarito@tu.org | 517-604-1844
Washington, DC – Today, the U.S. Senate passed a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution that rolls back critical protections for the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and its surrounding watershed. The resolution reopens the watershed to potential sulfide-ore mining upstream of the most visited Wilderness complex in the United States. The House of Representatives passed the resolution earlier this year and it will now go to the president’s desk to be signed.
“This 1.1 million–acre hunting and fishing paradise holds over 1,100 lakes, many supporting native lake trout – miles of cold, connected streams, and sensitive fish and wildlife habitat. Today’s vote puts that legacy at risk,” said Corey Fisher, Public Lands Policy Director at Trout Unlimited. “It opens the door to sulfide-ore mining just upstream of this fragile watershed. Science is clear: this is no place to risk perpetual pollution from acid mine drainage.”
The Boundary Waters supports a robust recreation economy that depends on clean, healthy water. Scientists and resource managers, including the U.S. Forest Service, have consistently warned that sulfide-ore mining in this watershed carries the risk of long-term water pollution. As noted in an environmental analysis prepared by the Forest Service for the Boundary Waters mineral withdrawal, “failures and accidents are a realistic possibility in complex and long-lasting hardrock mining operations.” In an extremely water-rich environment like the Boundary Waters, any mining plan failure or accident would create irreparable damage downstream throughout the watershed.
“Domestic mining can help meet the demand for minerals like copper, nickel and cobalt, but cannot be done responsibly everywhere, especially not in this water rich setting on the doorstep of America’s most-visited wilderness area. These waters are too special—and too vulnerable—to gamble with. Once they’re damaged, there’s no getting them back,” said John Lenczewski, Executive Director of Minnesota Trout Unlimited.
While the CRA resolution permanently overturns the administrative mineral withdrawal, the Boundary Waters Wilderness Protection Act, introduced by Sen. Tina Smith and Rep. Betty McCollum, would safeguard the watershed by withdrawing roughly 225,000 acres of federal lands and waters from sulfide-ore mining development.
“We have an opportunity to come together to protect our clean water future and public lands,” continued Corey Fisher, “Congress must pass the Boundary Waters Protection Act to ensure that the Boundary Waters remains a great place to hunt and fish for generations to come.”
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Trout Unlimited is the nation’s leading conservation organization working to care for and recover rivers and streams and their trout and salmon populations. We bring people together across the country to be champions for their rivers and help make our water cleaner and our communities healthier. Founded by a small band of Michigan anglers in 1959, we have grown into a national organization with more than 350 staff, 400 chapters, and 300,000 members and supporters. We bring science-driven restoration know-how, state and national policy muscle, and local volunteer energy to bear on behalf of clean water, healthy trout and salmon and thriving communities.