1. United States
2. Maine
3. Letter

Some places are too sacred to destroy, to precious to desecrate for private profit. Our most spectacular unspoiled lands are a precious legacy, too precious to ruin. We owe it to the future to hand them on intact, splendid, for all to enjoy and wonder at. The Boundary waters are such a place. Please: oppose legislation - including H.R 4090 - that would effectively give away our public lands, eliminate BWCA-protections and pave the way for dangerous copper sulphide mining. The Boundary Waters belong to all Americans - not to foreign mining corporations seeking short-term profits at the expense of permanent irreversible destruction. Do you want that destruction to be your legacy? Exploratory drilling is now happening. The Boundary waters area is at risk, but there is time to save it. We need federal and state protection. Each of those drill sites will be a monstrosity: Each of the 19 drill sites will have a drill pad clearing roughly 75 * 100 feet. Vegetation will be cleared along access roads to reach the pads. Some drilling will take place beneath Birch Lake. Drilling is planned 24 hours a day and will use 500-2,000 gallons of water daily. Please oppose all legislation that opens the Boundary Waters area and other unspoiled wilderness to exploitation. Please support all legislation including Senator Tina Smith's bill to protect the boundary waters.