John,

If you ever wonder whether people and wildlife can peacefully coexist, take a look at Minnesota's Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.

The Boundary Waters is more than a thousand miles worth of canoe routes and campsites for those who wish to experience nature at its most pristine. At the same time, these clear waters and lush forests are home to a thriving assortment of wolves, herons, moose, loons and other species.

However, a new bill in Congress could upset that fragile balance by opening the doors to copper mining projects near the Boundary Waters.1 These projects could taint the clear waters with toxic mining sludge.

We can't let that happen to one of the country's most beloved wildernesses. Tell your U.S. representative to reject the Boundary Waters mining bill.

This is an issue that all Americans should care about. If we can't protect a wilderness as pure as the Boundary Waters, what can we protect?

Copper mining near the Boundary Waters could be catastrophic. Copper mining is particularly devastating because it produces sulfuric acid that leaches heavy metals into surrounding watersheds. That means toxic byproducts like zinc and arsenic potentially drifting into the Boundary Waters.2

You might wonder, how could anyone possibly justify such a thing? Well, the Chilean-owned mining company argues that copper is in vitally short supply, despite the fact that the U.S. is already a top producer of the metal. It just doesn't make sense.3

Tell your member of Congress: Nobody should be allowed to mine near the Boundary Waters.

The Boundary Waters are a place for everyone, be they humans or wildlife. Damaging the Boundary Waters would not only threaten thousands of species that call the beautiful wilderness home, but it would also prevent millions of Americans from appreciating the breathtaking serenity of this wilderness.

We need more places like the Boundary Waters, where people can paddle through crystal waters or see moose and geese thriving in their natural habitat. By allowing this copper mine, we would risk spoiling it all just for a few more pieces of metal.

Tell your U.S. representative: The Boundary Waters should be off-limits to mining.

Thank you,

Ellen Montgomery

1. Dan Kraker, "Stauber reintroduces bill to reverse mining ban near Boundary Waters, return leases to Twin Metals," MPR News, February 5, 2025.
2. Becky Rom, "Here's the facts about the Boundary Waters and why we need to protect it from mining," Minnesota Reformer, May 11, 2023.
3. Becky Rom, "Here's the facts about the Boundary Waters and why we need to protect it from mining," Minnesota Reformer, May 11, 2023.