MN-04: Rep. McCollum is serious about protecting the BWCA

Among other things, both of Minnesota’s U.S. Senators have been trying to negotiate the safest possible political path on sulfide mining. Hopefully, maybe, this will get far enough to put them in a tough spot.

Minnesota Congresswoman Betty McCollum introduced legislation Wednesday to permanently ban copper, nickel and precious metals mining across more than 200,000 acres of the Superior National Forest in northeastern Minnesota.

The bill would forbid new mining operations within the watershed of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, including a project proposed by Twin Metals Minnesota, which last month submitted plans to state and federal regulators to open an underground copper-nickel mine outside Ely, and just a couple miles from the southern edge of the BWCA. - MPR

Here is a most excellent learning tool regarding the Twin Metals/Antofagasta proposal.