Senate overturns Boundary Waters protections, a boon for Chilean mining company

Key Points:

• The Senate voted 50-49 to overturn a 2023 mining moratorium in Minnesota's Superior National Forest, allowing Twin Metals Minnesota, a subsidiary of Chilean company Antofagasta, to advance a long-delayed copper and mineral mine project near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
• Environmentalists and some lawmakers warned the mining could pollute the Boundary Waters, the country's most visited wilderness area, but Republicans hailed the decision as a victory for local communities and economic development.
• The resolution was passed using the Congressional Review Act, enabling Congress to reverse executive actions by simple majority, despite opposition from Democrats and two Republicans who cautioned about environmental harm and political repercussions.
• The Boundary Waters, protected since 1978, prohibits motorized vehicles on its lakes, and opponents fear mining operations would inevitably contaminate the pristine area, a concern denied by Twin Metals.
• The bill now awaits President Biden's signature, with environmental groups and some Minnesota senators pledging ongoing efforts to protect the wilderness despite the setback.