Dear John,
 

Minnesota Representative Stauber’s misleadingly named Superior National Forest Restoration Act (HR978) is extremely dangerous legislation that aims to hand over public lands immediately upstream of the Boundary Waters to a foreign copper mining company.

This bill has been introduced before, in the last Congress — but this version is the most dangerous yet, with higher stakes and greater risks for the Boundary Waters.

This bill is designed to fast-track toxic mining near the Boundary Waters. 

This legislation would be devastating for America's canoe country and sets a dangerous precedent for all of our nation's public lands.

Twin Metals had applied for a 10-year lease, but Rep. Stauber’s bill takes it further — rolling out the red carpet for this foreign mining giant by locking in outrageous 70-year leases. These leases would cast a long shadow over the Boundary Waters for generations.

Along with limiting environmental review and increasing lease terms, this bill would also:

• Automatically renew leases, dramatically shifting the status quo, which currently requires the consent of the U.S. Forest Service.
• Disregard the strong scientific evidence behind the 20-year ban on copper mining near the Boundary Waters—and would quickly strip away those hard-won protections.
• Force the issuance of leases that were issued unlawfully during the first Trump Administration to Antofagasta.
• Prohibit judicial review of leases and prospecting permits.

Next week, there will be an important hearing in the House Natural Resources Committee, during which anti-public lands lawmakers won’t fight for their constituents and the American people, but rather, they will fight for Chilean mining conglomerate, Antofagasta, looking to profit from the forcing this toxic industry on the doorstep of the Boundary Waters.

Your elected officials need to hear from you NOW.

This hearing is part of the budget reconciliation process, when Congress can decide to fast-track major spending decisions—making it one of the most powerful tools for advancing or blocking critical priorities, including environmental protections. Because it only requires a simple majority and avoids the Senate filibuster, reconciliation has become a powerful tool for passing legislation, especially when one party controls both chambers of Congress and the presidency. 

We need to build as much power for the Boundary Waters as possible before next week — let’s show these lawmakers that America’s Canoe Country is not a trading token. Speak loudly for this quiet place today.

P.S. Make sure your Senators agree that America’s favorite Wilderness – the Boundary Waters – is NOT for sale. Take action here.

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Save the Boundary Waters
P.O. Box 625
Ely, MN 55731
United States

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