Ellen Montgomery
Director, Public Lands Campaign, Environment America
Statement: Interior Dept. protects Boundary Waters wilderness from mining
Media Contacts
Taran Volckhausen
Former Communications Associate, The Public Interest Network
WASHINGTON – U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland signed an order on Thursday that protects over 225,000 acres of land near Minnesota’s Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness from a proposed copper mine and any further mining or drilling for the next two decades. The Boundary Waters is the United States’ most visited wilderness area. Its lakes, ponds, fens and cliffs are home to a variety of species from old-growth pine and moose to wolves and hundreds of species of birds.
In January 2022, Environment America delivered more than 17,000 public comments to the Bureau of Land Management in support of protecting the area.
In response, Environment America Public Lands Campaign Director Ellen Montgomery issued the following statement:
“This is an amazing victory for the Boundary Waters, the wildlife that live there and the current and future generations who will be able to canoe and kayak on clean water. Mines, which can produce toxic pollution from leaks, spills and tailings, will never have a place in this pristine area. We’re delighted that Secretary Haaland has acted to protect the Boundary Waters, ensuring this incredible ecosystem is protected for at least the next 20 years.”
