After Congress overturned a ban on mining in the Boundary Waters, the pristine wilderness area became vulnerable to mining proposals, including toxic sulfide copper and nickel mining.
"Sulfide ore mining carries inherent risks from sulfate and mercury pollution. We applaud this step towards protecting precious freshwater and our treasured Boundary Waters," said Mary Blitzer, Sierra Club North Star Chapter Deputy Director. "Next, we will advocate for legislation to make these protections and protections for all of our waters permanent. If it’s too dangerous for the Boundary Waters, it’s too dangerous for our other treasured watersheds like Lake Superior and the Mississippi River."
Governor Walz’s executive order:
- Stops all permitting and environmental review work on sulfide ore (nonferrous mineral) mining projects in the Rainy River Headwaters Watershed - which includes the Boundary Waters.
- Directs the state Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to not issue any new leases or permits for sulfide ore mining in the watershed and to review all existing nonferrous mineral leases in the watershed to ensure that the BWCAW is protected for generations to come.
- Directs the DNR to draft legislative language to permanently prohibit sulfide-ore mining in the watershed.
The Sierra Club North Star Chapter thanks Governor Walz for standing up for water, wilderness, and Minnesotans. We also thank the hundreds of thousands of Americans who for years have been speaking out to protect these waters. This is a win for all of us today and for future generations. This historic action sets an important precedent for our next governor and future state legislation.