Today, the Trump Administration directly threatened the future of Minnesota's Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, one of America’s iconic wilderness areas.

Administration officials announced that the United States Forest Service will allow companies to pursue sulfide ore mining leases immediately adjacent to the Boundary Waters. Today’s announcement also included an abrupt end to an incomplete and never-released environmental study of sulfide mining impacts in the BWCA watershed that was started under the Obama Administration.

Margaret Levin, State Director for the Sierra Club North Star Chapter issued the following statement in response:

“The Sierra Club strongly condemns this decision by the Trump Administration. The Boundary Waters is the most visited wilderness area in the country. As a cornerstone of northern Minnesota's economy and a unique piece of our nation’s natural legacy, the Boundary Waters simply must be protected.

“Minnesotans care about each other and our home, the great state of Minnesota. Today's decision further cements the Trump Administration's true vision for Minnesota's future: corrupt cronyism driving corporate profits at the expense of future generations. We continue to stand firmly alongside northern Minnesota’s downstream communities, tribal leaders, businesses and concerned residents as they confront the threat of toxic sulfide mining throughout the region.”