:
John,
Three of America's most special and wild places could soon be opened up to copper mining -- a practice with potentially devastating consequences for the ecosystems, wildlife and communities that depend on them.
Copper mines carve deep, open pits into the earth to access buried ore. These massive operations all too often tear apart landscapes, contaminate waterways and leave behind toxic scars that can last for years.
There's more: Copper mining can release sulfuric acid, mercury and lead. This combination can poison groundwater, contaminate rivers and harm entire ecosystems.
As the acid runoff leaches into soil and waterways, it can harm aquatic plants and fish, as well as the animals that rely upon them. The toxins can linger in the environment for years.
That's not a risk we can afford when it comes to some of our nation's most cherished wild places.[1]
In northern Minnesota, near the Canadian border, a proposed copper mine could release toxic pollution into the vast lakes and rivers of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.[2]
The proposed mine site would sit just near the park's edge, close enough to threaten the moose, loons and wolves that call this quiet place home.[3]
We shouldn't be damaging such a vital habitat and beloved recreational destination.
In Arizona's high desert, mining companies are seeking to access the copper deposits beneath Ironwood Forest National Monument, near Tucson.[4]
This rugged landscape is home to ancient ironwood trees, endangered Nichols turk's head cactus and desert wildlife from bighorn sheep to pygmy owls.[5]
Mining in this area would threaten the beloved landscape while fragmenting and tearing up delicate desert habitat. Ancient trees could be cleared to make way for copper mining.
Also in Arizona, Oak Flat is another high desert ecosystem home to a vast array of desert wildlife.
But a proposed mining operation runs the risk of destroying the beauty of this remote desert environment.
Oak Flat sustains a variety of species, from the regal horned lizard and the rare ocelot to the endangered hedgehog cacti. These sensitive animals could lose their homes to mining.
Worse, because Oak Flat sits near other protected lands like Ga'an Canyon, mining contamination in the area could spread beyond the site, putting even more habitat at risk.[6]
Sure, copper is essential to modern life, from electronic devices to electric vehicles.[7] But that doesn't mean we need to destroy protected wild places to get it.
For one thing, copper can be recycled and reused again and again without losing quality.
By reducing our waste and improving copper recycling systems, we could meet much of our demand without opening new mines in these special places.[8]
If copper mining is allowed to tear up these landscapes, the damage can't be undone, at least not easily.
The ancient trees of Ironwood Forest won't quickly grow back. The clean lakes and streams of the Boundary Waters will take decades or longer to run clear again. The rare wildlife that depend on Oak Flat's desert habitat will not soon recover.
That's why we're working to protect these special places before it's too late.
Thank you for helping defend America's wild places,
Lisa Frank
Executive Director
P.S. We're hard at work to protect America's wild places from threats like copper mining. Will you donate to defend our special places?
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1. Ellen Montgomery and Sydney Hierbaum, "How Copper Mines Pollute," Environment America, February 21, 2025.
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2. Katelyn Rolfes and Ellen Montgomery, "Statement: Senator Smith introduces bill to provide permanent protections for Boundary Waters," Environment America, April 10, 2025.
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3. Katelynn Rolfes, "What makes the Boundary Waters so special?," Environment Minnesota, March 18, 2025.
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4. Ellen Montgomery, "The Ironwood Forest National Monument: Arizona's hidden treasure," Environment America, August 19, 2025.
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5. "Ironwood Forest National Monument," Bureau of Land Management, last accessed October 17, 2025.
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6. Niklas Frimberger and Ellen Montgomery, "Save Arizona's Oak Flat from mining," Environment Arizona, March 11, 2025.
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7. Ellen Montgomery and Sydney Hierbaum, "How Copper Mines Pollute," Environment America, February 21, 2025.
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8. Ellen Montgomery and Sydney Hierbaum, "How Copper Mines Pollute," Environment America, February 21, 2025.
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