Congress overturns ban on mining near the Boundary Waters

By: J. Patrick Coolican

Outlets: Minnesota Reformer

Published: April 16, 2026

Words: 683

Last Updated: 3 months, 2 weeks ago

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The U.S. Senate voted 50-49 Thursday to allow sulfide mining in areas near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.

The vote ends President Joe Biden’s 20-year moratorium on mining leases across more than 225,000 acres of Superior National Forest near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, which was visited by nearly 150,000 people in 2024.

Northeast Minnesota sits atop the Duluth Complex, a significant deposit of copper and nickel. Twin Metals, a subsidiary …

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