1. United States
2. Fla.
3. Letter

Today, the U.S. House of Representatives voted 214-208 to pass H.J. Res. 140, a resolution that would undo a 20-year ban on mining near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and throughout the surrounding watershed in northern Minnesota. That ban existed for a reason the land drains directly into the Boundary Waters, and protecting it meant protecting clean water, wildlife, and an outdoor economy that thousands of people rely on. To overturn it, the House used the Congressional Review Act (something typically meant for federal rules) in a way many see as dangerous and unprecedented for public lands. If this becomes law, a mine doesn’t appear overnight, but the door is thrown wide open. It would clear the path for copper-nickel sulfide mining near the Boundary Waters’ headwaters. I strongly urge you to oppose H.J. Res. 140. I care deeply about clean water, wilderness, and public lands and this would hurt the water source for a lot of people. Mining pollutes areas with acid and there’s no undo button once this happens.