Govoptes

HR 588 · Boundary Waters Wilderness Protection and Pollution Prevention Act

Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.

Introduced
Jan 21, 2025
Latest action
Jan 21, 2025
Sponsor
Rep. Betty McCollum [D-MN-4]
Policy area
Public Lands and Natural Resources
Cosponsors
37

Summary

Boundary Waters Wilderness Protection and Pollution Prevention Act This bill protects and preserves approximately 225,504 acres of federal land and waters in a specified area in the Rainy River Watershed of Superior National Forest in Minnesota from certain mining, such as sulfide-ore copper mining. (The area is upstream from the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.) Specifically, the bill withdraws those acres from entry, appropriation, and disposal under the public land laws; location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; and operation of the mineral leasing, mineral materials, and geothermal leasing laws. However, the Forest Service is authorized to permit the removal of sand, granite, iron ore, and taconite from national forest system lands within such area if the removal is not detrimental to the water quality, air quality, and health of forest habitat within the Rainy River Watershed. Land or interest in land within such area that is acquired by the United States must be immediately withdrawn in accordance with this bill.

Recent actions

  1. Jan 21, 2025 Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
  2. Jan 21, 2025 Introduced in House
  3. Jan 21, 2025 Introduced in House

Votes

No recorded votes are available for this bill.

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