Congresswoman Betty McCollum introduced the National Park and Wilderness Waters Protection Forever Act, HR 2072 (formerly HR 1796), on Wednesday. This bill takes a historic step toward completing permanent protection of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and enhancing protection for Voyageurs National Park by ensuring that risky mining operations are not permitted in places where they might pollute the areas' priceless lakes, rivers and forests.
"This Act is crucial to protecting large portions of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and Voyageurs National Park from acid mine drainage," said Becky Rom, third-generation Ely resident and chair of the Campaign to Save the Boundary Waters. "Sulfide-ore copper mining would do more harm than good to this beloved region. Allowing industrialized mining on the edge of the Boundary Waters would not only pollute water, it would also destroy National Forest lands in areas now used for hunting, fishing, snowmobiling, dogsledding, hiking, skiing, canoeing, logging and other activities."
To understand more about this bill, and what it could do to help the Boundary Waters and Voyageur's National Park, check out the Infographic below and read our full press release about this announcement. Then thank Rep. McCollum and urge your representatives to support the bill.
