1. United States
2. Ill.
3. Letter

I urge you to oppose the Congressional resolution that would eliminate the 20-year mining ban protecting the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness from toxic copper mining. This resolution bypasses the normal democratic process and threatens one of America's most pristine wilderness areas. The Boundary Waters spans over one million acres in northern Minnesota, encompassing more than 1,000 lakes and 1,200 miles of rivers and streams. For generations, this wilderness has provided irreplaceable opportunities for canoeing, camping, and hiking. Stripping away mining protections would allow Chilean mining giant Antofagasta to build the Twin Metals copper-nickel mine upstream of this watershed, permanently destroying habitat for hundreds of species including wolves, moose, loons, lynx, and walleye. The economic argument for this mine is fundamentally flawed. Industry allies claim Twin Metals would create a massive new supply of critical minerals for the United States, but the company actually intends to ship its product abroad to be processed and sold offshore. Meanwhile, the Boundary Waters currently sustains thousands of jobs in the region's outdoor tourism economy that would be jeopardized by mining operations. For years, conservationists, hunters, anglers, small business owners, and local residents have fought to protect this wilderness. The current 20-year mining ban reflects careful consideration of the watershed's ecological importance and economic value. This Congressional maneuver ignores the voices of Minnesotans and Americans who have consistently advocated for preservation. I ask you to stand with the thousands of people whose livelihoods depend on a healthy Boundary Waters ecosystem and vote against this resolution. Protecting this wilderness is not just an environmental issue but an economic imperative for northern Minnesota's communities.