Photo: US Forest Service 

By Laura Durenberger-Grunow - Boreal Community Media - April 11, 2025


On April 9, U.S. Senator Tina Smith introduced the Boundary Waters Wilderness Protection Act, which would permanently ban new sulfide ore mining in the Rainy River watershed, which drains into the BWCAW. The ban would consist of 225,504 acres of federal forest land. According to a release from Senator Smith's office, the bill would not prohibit or restrict existing or potential mining projects outside the "withdrawal area" in the Rainy River Watershed. It would also not affect taconite mines throughout the state. 

“The Boundary Waters must be protected for today, and future generations. The impartial science and data show unequivocally that copper-nickel sulfide mining poses an unacceptable risk to the Boundary Waters," Smith said in a release, before adding, "Mining is an important driver of Minnesota’s economy and the pride of every Iron Ranger. I support mining, but not this mine in this precious place. Majorities of Minnesotans oppose mining in the watershed of the Boundary Waters. I am prepared to fight with every tool I have to protect one of America’s greatest wilderness areas,” said Senator Smith. 

The announcement of the bill received opposition from Congressman Pete Stauber, who reintroduced his bill, titled the Superior National Forest Restoration Act, in February of this year. If passed, the legislation would reopen 225,504 acres of land near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness to copper-nickel mining. The bill would also reverse Public Land Order 7917, signed by then-Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland in 2023, which withdrew the land from possible mining leases and contracts for 20 years. 

Of Senator Smith's bill, Stauber said in a statement: 

“Not only would critical mineral mining in northern Minnesota create good-paying union jobs and revitalize our economy, but it would provide much-needed funding for every school district in Minnesota and reduce our nation’s dependence on foreign adversaries like China. It is offensive to oppose these worthy goals.

With the introduction of this legislation, Senator Smith has once again proven herself to be anti-union. Fortunately, Senator Smith is in the minority and retiring soon, so any chance of this legislation becoming law is virtually impossible.”

In January, Congresswoman Betty McCollum introduced the Boundary Waters Wilderness Protection and Pollution Prevention Act, which would permanently protect 225,504 acres of federal lands and waters within the Superior National Forest from mining. The bill shares similar goals to Senator Smith's bill, including not prohibiting or restricting existing or potential mining projects outside of the BWCAW area. In a statement, McCollum expressed deep concerns about the potential for sulfide ore mining to pollute the pristine waters of the Boundary Waters. 

Senator Smith and Congressman Stauber aren't the only politicians to propose a bill relating to the Boundary Waters this legislative session. These bills came after President Donald Trump claimed that he would boost mining across the country during his second presidential campaign. Last month, he signed an executive order to increase American mineral production. According to the order, "The United States was once the world’s largest producer of lucrative minerals, but overbearing Federal regulation has eroded our Nation’s mineral production. Our national and economic security are now acutely threatened by our reliance upon hostile foreign powers’ mineral production."

Stauber's bill was referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources, but has not moved further through the legislative process since being introduced on February 5. McCollum's bill was referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources on January 21 but has had no additional actions since.