Your #1 source for blades and firearms news and updates…

  • Home
  • Knives
  • News
  • Hunting
  • Tactical
  • Prepping & Survival
  • Videos
Subscribe
Font ResizerAa
Blade ShopperBlade Shopper
  • News
  • Knives
  • Prepping & Survival
  • Tactical
  • Hunting
  • Videos
Search
  • Home
  • Knives
  • News
  • Hunting
  • Tactical
  • Prepping & Survival
  • Videos
banner
Create an Amazing Newspaper
Discover thousands of options, easy to customize layouts, one-click to import demo and much more.
Learn More

Stay Updated

Get the latest headlines, discounts for the military community, and guides to maximizing your benefits
Subscribe

Explore

  • Photo of The Day
  • Opinion
  • Today's Epaper
  • Trending News
  • Weekly Newsletter
  • Special Deals
Home » Minnesota Bill Would Remove Protections from Boundary Waters

Minnesota Bill Would Remove Protections from Boundary Waters

Adam Green By Adam Green April 25, 2024 4 Min Read
Share
Minnesota Bill Would Remove Protections from Boundary Waters

Back in January 2023, the Department of the Interior (DOI) announced a 20-year moratorium on all mining in a swath of U.S. National Forest land in northeast Minnesota known as the Rainy River Watershed. The watershed includes a portion of Superior National Forest and the famous Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Hunters and anglers across the country cheered the DOI’s decision to protect the Boundary Waters—and to stop the proposed development of a sulfide-ore copper mine that would have polluted the area’s pristine fish and wildlife habitat. Now, a bill is moving through the U.S. House of Representatives that would reverse those protections and allow the stalled mine proposal to resume progress.

Fishing Conservation photo
SFBW.

“HR3195 is up for a House floor vote early next week,” Lukas Leaf, the Executive Director of Sportsmen for the Boundary Waters (SFBW), tells Field & Stream. “The bill was introduced in May 2023, but this will be the first time that it’s received any floor time.”

Leaf and SFBW spearheaded a years-long fight against the proposed Twin Metals mine, and their efforts ultimately led to the DOI’s 2023 decision to withdraw mineral leasing from the watershed. “This bill effectively reverses all of the hard work and conservation wins that we’ve had thus far with partners across the board for preventing proposed copper-nickel mining within the Rainy River Watershed,” Leaf says.

The text of the curiously named Superior National Forest Restoration Act, or HR3195, is short and straightforward. In its opening line, it proposes to “rescind Public Land Order 7917 (the DOI’s name for its 20-year mineral withdrawal) and to “reinstate mineral leases and permits in the Superior National Forest.” It stops short of mentioning the proposed Twin Metals project specifically, but Leafs says its primary sponsor, Rep. Pete Stauber of Minnesota’s 8th Congressional District, is a long-time advocate of the proposed mining project. “He represents all three counties that encompass the Boundary Waters and Superior National Forest,” Leaf says.

In a handout provided to Field & Stream, which SFBW plans to take to Washington D.C. next week, the conservation group said the bill would extend prospecting permits and additional leases, approve mine plans on an accelerated timeline, and forbid judicial review of leases and prospecting permits. “These actions would have severe and irreversible consequences for the Boundary Waters and surrounding region,” the congressional handout states.

Read Next: Proposed Rare Earth Mine Would Sit Along the Headwaters of a Legendary Montana Trout Stream

“Achieving monumental federal protections from copper-nickel mining in the Rainy River Watershed in 2023 was the most significant step taken in decades to protect the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness for future generations,” says Leaf. “HR 3195 would unravel those protections, directly threatening our cherished outdoor traditions in Northeast Minnesota, again making the Quetico-Superior region vulnerable to toxic mining practices. This legislation flies in the face of those who love clean water, wildlife, and the world-class fishing and hunting opportunities the Boundary Waters provides. We urge our supporters to help stop this bill in its tracks.”



Read the full article here

Share This Article
Facebook X Copy Link Print
Previous Article Activists Are Defining Hunters by One Man Who Tortured a Wolf Activists Are Defining Hunters by One Man Who Tortured a Wolf
Next Article APEX Ammunition Congratulates Brad Fenson on World Turkey Slam APEX Ammunition Congratulates Brad Fenson on World Turkey Slam
Leave a Comment Leave a Comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Wake up with our popular morning roundup of the day's top blades, firearms and survavial news and updates.

The Mexican Desert Holds a Surprising Number of Ducks and Quail. Here’s Why

September 6, 2025

Child Discovers Firearm at Playground, Owner Now Facing Charges

September 6, 2025

America’s largest gun lobby speaks out as Trump admin mulls possible trans firearms ban

September 6, 2025

After a 20-Year Closure, I Finally Got to Hunt Snipe Again. They’re Still Impossible to Hit

September 6, 2025

Big Knife, Little Chat! My Most Asked Question.

September 6, 2025

You Might Also Like

Get Your Hands on the Best New Rod & Reel Systems for Bass

Get Your Hands on the Best New Rod & Reel Systems for Bass

Hunting
Podcast: The Cold Truth About Winter Fishing In Skinny Saltwater

Podcast: The Cold Truth About Winter Fishing In Skinny Saltwater

Hunting
Sierra Bullets and Barnes Bullets to Exhibit at 2025 IWA OutdoorClassics

Sierra Bullets and Barnes Bullets to Exhibit at 2025 IWA OutdoorClassics

Hunting
Winchester® 400 Legend Awarded 2025 Golden Bullseye Award by NRA American Hunter

Winchester® 400 Legend Awarded 2025 Golden Bullseye Award by NRA American Hunter

Hunting

2025 © Blade Shopper. All rights reserved.

Helpful Links

  • News
  • Knives
  • Prepping & Survival
  • Tactical
  • Hunting
  • Videos

Resources

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Press Release
  • Advertise
  • Contact

Popuplar

The Mexican Desert Holds a Surprising Number of Ducks and Quail. Here’s Why
Everything You Need to Know About Joining the Air Force
Bournemouth Air Festival: The UK’s Largest Air Festival
We provide daily defense news, benefits information, veteran employment resources, spouse and family resources.
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?