MN CAN PROTECT THE BWCA
The fate of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area might soon be in the hands of the state of Minnesota. Any day now, the U.S. Senate could vote to approve a federal bill that would allow copper-nickel sulfide mining in the watersheds of both the BWCA and Voyageur’s National Park. That would result in elevated mercury levels poisoning fish and wildlife and damaging wild rice beds.
But the state can act to prevent that from happening:.
Both the state Senate and House of Representatives have introduced the Boundary Waters Permanent Protection Bill that would ban sulfide-ore copper mines from the BWCA and Voyageurs National Park watershed areas. The bill (Senate File 875 and House File 309) ONLY applies to sulfide-ore copper mining and does NOT prohibit or otherwise impact existing or future taconite, iron ore, sand, gravel, and granite mining.
Our Call to Action
Call your state representative and state Senator and ask them to urge that this bill get a hearing and to support this bill when it comes up for a vote.
Contact Information for MN State legislators
Find out who your state representative and senator is and their contact information at Who Represents Me?
Suggested message
I am ______ and I live __________. Optional: I am a member of Indivisible Twin Cities.
Urge the Environment committee in your body to hear the Boundary Waters Permanent Protection Bill (Senate File 875/House File 309) to ensure that copper-nickel sulfide mining does not poison the watersheds of the BWCA and Voyageurs National Park. And vote for the bill when it comes to your committees or to the floor.
Add a sentence or two about why this matters to you. For instance:
Do have ties to the region?
Do you travel there?
Own a home in the region?
Do you value wilderness?
Are you worried about creating damage that cannot be undone?
Resources
Save the Boundary Waters
https://www.savetheboundarywaters.org/facts-key-state-bill-permanently-protect-boundary-waters
