10 signatures reached
To: U.S. Senator Tina Smith
We must protect the Boundary Waters Wilderness forever
U.S. Senator Tina Smith of Minnesota has introduced historic legislation that would permanently protect Minnesota’s Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and Voyageurs National Park from the threat of copper mining.
The Boundary Waters Wilderness Protection Act is the first bill in nearly half a century in the U.S. Senate that broadly protects the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. The Act permanently withdraws 225,504 acres of federal land and waters within the Superior National Forest from the federal mining portfolio, banning risky sulfide-ore copper mining in the headwaters of the Wilderness, Canada’s Quetico Provincial Park, and Voyageurs National Park.
At a time when this irreplaceable landscape is under increasing threat, Senator Smith’s leadership is a crucial and timely response to ensure the Boundary Waters Wilderness is protected for all who cherish and depend upon it.
The Boundary Waters is not just a place; it is a symbol of the very best of what America’s public lands have to offer - natural beauty, economic stability, recreation, expansive habitat, accessibility, clean air and water, and much more. With this legislation, Senator Smith is following in the footsteps of the many Minnesotan leaders before her who fought for the future of this Wilderness.
Thank you Senator Smith for being a champion for America’s public lands and canoe country by introducing her historic legislation to safeguard the headwaters of the Boundary Waters, Voyageurs National Park, and Canada’s Quetico Provincial Park.
Why is this important?
A vast collection of peer-reviewed science shows that if the proposed Twin Metals mine was built along the rivers and streams flowing into the Wilderness, pollution and environmental degradation would be certain. It would also harm the economy: A peer-reviewed independent study from Harvard University shows that protecting the Boundary Waters from proposed sulfide-ore mining would result in dramatically more jobs and more income over a 20-year period. Polls show very strong support for permanent protection for this priceless Wilderness area.
Unfortunately and alarmingly, the Trump administration has promised to undo existing Boundary Waters protections and has already issued far-reaching Executive Orders that endanger public lands across the country, including the Boundary Waters. Also, U.S. Representative Pete Stauber’s pending legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives would rescind the mining ban, reinstate canceled mineral leases, bar judicial review, and require rapid approval of a flawed mine plan.
Now, more than ever, it is time for all of us to fight for the places we love. We are grateful for Senator Smith’s leadership, now we all must work alongside her and ensure that the Boundary Waters is protected for generations to come.
Find more information at www.SavetheBoundaryWaters.org
Find more information at www.SavetheBoundaryWaters.org