Prove It First bill and a Path to Permanent Protection
Elected officials and environmental groups roll out plans for legislation and other actions to prevent contamination.
Search Results for: twin metals
Legislators and advocates call for “Prove It First” copper-nickel mining law in Minnesota
Legislation would require high standard of evidence that a mine can be operated without polluting. “Before they put a shovel into the ground…”
Federal government will review mining exploration’s impacts on endangered species
Agency agrees to consider how copper prospecting near Boundary Waters could affect lynx and bats.
DNR and wilderness advocates agree on review of state’s mining rules
Legal settlement requires DNR to determine if untested regulations are strong enough to protect Boundary Waters.
Geologists mapping bedrock of northeastern Minnesota to understand groundwater
Major effort to document geology of the region underway, should help protect drinking water and other resources.
Superfluous stars: Boundary Waters gets rare “Dark Sky” designation
BWCAW awarded prestigious Dark Sky status from international organization concerned with light pollution.
‘A Northern Light’ Patagonia’s new short film featuring the Boundary Waters
Intimate and lyrical production follows activist through wilderness as he reflects on its value and the threat of mining.
Rainy River restored after decades of abuse
Once badly polluted, the river that drains much of the Quetico-Superior region now boasts clean water and good fishing.
Clean Water Act rollback could make it difficult to protect BWCAW water from mining pollution
Proposal from federal government could block MN from protecting lakes and rivers in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
Flashback: A New Yorker tried to mine copper inside the Boundary Waters
George St. Clair’s efforts to exercise mineral rights he had inherited set off battles in the courts, the newspapers, and legislative bodies from St. Paul to Washington, D.C.
Minnesota court rejects air permit for proposed PolyMet copper-nickel mine
Judges order state to consider if PolyMet actually plans a much larger mine than the company told regulators when applying for an air pollution permit.
Northern Minnesota mining reports from Trump administration met with criticism
Government agencies release confidential and redacted documents that fail to satisfy wilderness advocates who requested them.
Tribal group supports legislation to prevent mining near Boundary Waters
Coalition of Ojibwe bands calls on Congress to pass legislation blocking copper-nickel mines in the wilderness watershed.
House committee holds hearing on McCollum bill to block mining in wilderness watershed
Members of Congress questioned witnesses who testified about the Boundary Waters, the economy, and past decisions to protect northeastern Minnesota’s lakes and rivers.
New legislation in Congress would prohibit mining in Boundary Waters watershed
Bill introduced today by Rep. Betty McCollum seeks to stop any and all copper-nickel mining activity in parts of the Superior National Forest where water flows into the wilderness.
Federal legislation requires report on mining threat to international waters
Rep. McCollum includes funding for State Department to study effects on shared border waters, from proposed copper-nickel mining upstream in the Superior National Forest.
Legislation initiates discussion of stricter laws for storing mine waste
Pair of Minnesota lawmakers propose following Montana’s lead in strengthening rules about the design and oversight of tailings dam, in response to recent catastrophes in other countries.
Star Tribune editorial board calls for release of Forest Service mining study
Star Tribune says Trump officials should justify how they decided to cancel an environmental review and reopen the opportunity for a mining proposal near the Boundary Waters to proceed.
Former Minnesota governor calls for reconsideration of PolyMet permits
Arne Carlson and another retired official say new information has come to light that requires a review of how the mine proposal was permitted.
Former Forest Service leader calls for continued protection of Boundary Waters
Retired leader of agency who took steps to prevent mining pollution from harming the wilderness says continued protection is important.