1. United States
2. Calif.
3. Letter

Please protect all Americans’ access to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in Minnesota. Vote NO on house resolution 140. The Boundary Waters and Voyageurs National Park are protected by Public Land Order 7917, the 20-year Mineral Withdrawal banning copper mining on federal public lands in the headwaters of these wild lands. This Mineral Withdrawal was based on the U.S. Forest Service’s Environmental Assessment, which concluded that sulfide-ore copper mining near the Boundary Waters would cause irreversible harm to the ecosystem and downstream Voyageurs National Park. The analysis completed by the Forest Service in 2022 included 675,000 public comments, over 95% of which favored protecting the Boundary Waters and Voyageurs from sulfide-ore copper mining.  In early January, this Public Land Order (7917) was challenged under the Congressional Review Act, despite Public Land Orders having never been deemed a rule subject to the CRA. Statutory requirements for Public Land Orders have always been dictated by the Federal Land Management and Policy Act of 1976. Using the Congressional Review Act to attack these protections creates a reckless precedent that would allow Congress to retroactively target virtually any public land action as a ‘rule.’ I ask you to vote no on any Joint Resolution 140 that would overturn the Public Land Order. Removing Boundary Waters protections by passing this CRA would blatantly ignore the voices of the American people and prioritize the profits of a foreign mining company (Chilean conglomerate Antofagasta) over the interest of this nation’s citizenry and beloved Public Lands.  This region is much more than a beautiful place. It embodies the best of our public lands: clean water, expansive habitat, world-class recreation, and a strong, sustainable local economy. Generations of Midwesterners and Americans from across the country have formed deep connections to nature through hunting, fishing, camping, canoeing, and hiking in the Boundary Waters. Allowing copper mining to proceed by overturning the Mineral Withdrawal also puts the regional economy at risk. The outdoor recreation economy in northeastern Minnesota supports over 17,000 jobs and contributes more than $1 billion in annual sales. Studies consistently show that protecting the Boundary Waters generates stronger and more sustainable economic benefits than short term and toxic sulfide-ore copper mining. I urge you to work with your colleagues in Congress to protect the Boundary Waters and adjoining Voyageurs National Park. Do not sell out our Wilderness to Chilean mining giant Antofagasta. Support the will of Minnesotans and Americans who want our public lands preserved.