U.S. Senate Disapproves Mining Ban in Boundary Waters

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Senate voted to approve a controversial proposal , backed by the Trump Administration, to allow toxic sulfide mining in the watershed of one of the country's most visited wilderness areas.

In a 50-49 vote, Senate Republicans utilized a baseless interpretation of the Congressional Review Act to overturn a 20-year moratorium on mining in the Superior National Forest in the watershed of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. The House approved a similar resolution in January. It now goes to the White House, where Donald Trump is expected to sign it.

The CRA only allows Congress to disapprove of administrative rules. No previous administration has considered mineral withdrawals to be "rules" that are subject to the CRA.

In response, Athan Manuel, director of Sierra Club's Lands Protection Program, released the following statement:

"The Boundary Waters is one of the country's most iconic wilderness areas, visited by thousands every year. It should be a place for recreation and conservation, not for pollution and exploitation. Allowing a foreign company to open a toxic mine on its doorstep puts a fragile ecosystem at risk and shows the Trump Administration will always act to benefit corporations over the American people."

Margaret Levin, State Director of the North Star Chapter of the Sierra Club, released the following statement:

"Water is life. As Minnesotans we know this in our souls. We are so proud of being the land of 10,000 lakes. These copper sulfide mining projects have terrible track records - in fact a 100 percent failure rate at preventing spills. They simply do not belong in our water-rich state. It is our right and duty to protect this water. Republicans are voting against American's interest in clean water."