State-level permits are still needed before toxic sulfide mining could move forward.
Water is life. As Minnesotans we know this in our souls. Urban, suburban and rural, we are proud of being the land of 10,000 lakes. Minnesota voters of all political stripes overwhelmingly back natural resource protection.
Yet, Thursday morning, the U.S. Senate voted to approve a controversial proposal, backed by the Trump Administration, to allow toxic sulfide mining in the watershed of one of the country’s most visited wilderness areas.
In this extremely close 50-49 votes, Republican Senators voted against American and Minnesotan interests and need for clean water.
Senate Republicans utilized a baseless interpretation of the Congressional Review Act to overturn a 20-year moratorium on mining in the Superior National Forest in the watershed of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. The House approved a similar resolution in January. It now goes to the White House, where Donald Trump is expected to sign it. The CRA only allows Congress to disapprove of administrative rules. No previous administration has considered mineral withdrawals to be “rules” that are subject to the CRA.
The copper sulfide mining projects we are fighting have terrible track records – in fact, they have a 100 percent failure rate at preventing spills. They simply do not belong in our water-rich state. It is our right and duty to protect this water.
While this action will place these beloved lands and waters at risk, we will not stop fighting with downstream communities, tribal leaders, businesses, concerned residents, and all the Minnesotans and Americans who have personal ties to the Boundary Waters.
This does not end the fight. Copper sulfide mines need state permits. We call on Governor Walz to act.
Our calls, emails, and social posts are starting to make a difference. This vote was closer than any of the other similar public lands votes last year. And our work is not over yet.
We are grateful to Minnesota Senator Smith and Senator Klobuchar who championed Boundary Waters protections. Now we look to the rest of our leaders.
Governor Walz should direct the Department of Natural Resources to cancel state leases for Twin Metals. In the race for the next Governor, gubernatorial candidate Klobuchar must show us she will commit to fighting copper-sulfide mines.
Federal officials just chose the interests of foreign, billion-dollar corporations over us. Now is the time for state leaders to step up.