US Senate backs mining near Boundary Waters
Lawmakers approved a controversial step that supporters call economic and critics call dangerous.
The US Senate narrowly voted to overturn a mining moratorium near Minnesota\'s Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, one of the most visited and best-known natural areas in the country. The measure passed 50-49 and now goes to President Donald Trump, who is expected to sign it.
The moratorium, imposed during Joe Biden\'s presidency, blocked mining across 225,000 acres in the Superior National Forest for 20 years. Supporters of repeal say copper and nickel mining there could strengthen domestic mineral supply chains and create jobs.
Opponents argue that the environmental risks are too high. Conservation groups and Democratic lawmakers warned that sulfide mining could contaminate nearby waters and permanently harm the Boundary Waters ecosystem. They also noted that the company involved is foreign-owned, which complicated the political debate.
Even after the Senate vote, the project is not certain to move forward quickly. It still faces permit reviews, possible lawsuits and other legal and regulatory challenges.