BIG NEWS - we won a SECOND legal challenge for the Boundary Waters this week!

John, 

Our challenge to Minnesota’s current copper mining rules - which threaten the Boundary Waters - now moves to the next crucial stage.

Last year we sued, challenging Minnesota’s rules governing copper mining, because the rules are inadequate to protect the Boundary Waters from pollution, impairment, and destruction. Antofagasta's Twin Metals sought to have our lawsuit dismissed. 

In a major win for the Boundary Waters today, Judge Nelson denied Twin Metals' motion and directed the DNR to begin a review of the rules.

These rules guide how sulfide-ore copper mines are sited, and the science is clear -- there should be no such mines in the watershed of the Boundary Waters. 

This is the second important legal win the Campaign to Save the Boundary Waters has won for the Boundary Waters in this week alone. These wins wouldn’t be possible without your financial support. Please rush a gift today so we can achieve the ultimate win: permanent protection for the Boundary Waters.

In short, here’s what today’s decision means:

• The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will begin a review of mining regulations and determine whether, as we have argued, changes are required to ensure the Boundary Waters is protected from degradation.
  
  
• The DNR will soon begin a public comment process where anyone can weigh in and suggest why the current regulations don’t work and how they should be amended.
  
  
• The rules should conform to the science, which we believe shows that sulfide-ore copper mining must be prohibited in the Boundary Waters watershed.
  
  
• After considering the public comments, the DNR will determine if a change is needed.
  
  
• Very likely the DNR's decision will be challenged, in a proceeding called a contested case hearing, before an Administrative Law Judge.
  
  
• Any new rule-making, if ordered by the DNR or the Administrative Law Judge,  would likely require about 2 years to complete. 

The Campaign to Save the Boundary Waters has a strategic, multi-pronged approach to achieve permanent protection for this special place.

This lawsuit is a critical piece of our state strategy, so this is fantastic news for the future of the Boundary Waters. 

YOU can help keep up this winning momentum for the Boundary Waters by rushing a donation today.

You are receiving this e-mail because you have supported the Campaign to Save the Boundary Waters - a project of Northeastern Minnesotans for Wilderness.

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

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