The Boundary Waters is canoe country. It is the largest Wilderness east of the Rockies and north of the Everglades. Along with the Superior National Forest, it contains 20% of all the freshwater in the entire National Forest System.
Proposed sulfide-ore copper mining threatens these waters and forests.
A copper mine in the Boundary Waters watershed will pollute the Wilderness for generations to come, causing irreversible harm to water quality, wildlife, public health, and a sustainable outdoor recreation-based economy.
Sulfide-ore copper mining is proposed on the edge of the Wilderness
Unlike iron mining, sulfide-ore copper mining has never been done in the state of Minnesota. This type of mining generates waste rock full of sulfates, which, when exposed to air and water, becomes sulphuric acid, and leaches toxins like heavy metals into the surrounding water. This destructive industry should not be allowed in the headwaters of the Boundary Waters.
