Stop Mining Project From Destroying Pristine Wilderness

Target: Deb Haaland, Secretary of Department of the Interior

Goal: Prevent Twin Metals mining company from poisoning local wildlife and driving life-long residents from their homes.

For years, Twin Metals has been pushing to construct an environmentally destructive copper-nickel mine near the Boundary Waters, which straddles the US-Canadian Border and is comprised of land in Minnesota and Ontario. The mine would be situated on Superior National Forest land which is located inside the watershed that flows into the Boundary Waters. The Obama administration refused to renew two leases required by Twin Metals to proceed, but the decision was reversed during the Trump era. Now the Biden administration has the opportunity to block the leases and move forward with an environmental study that could potentially block mining in this region for the next 20 years.

If this crucial move is made by our current officials it will protect the many locals who rely solely on the Boundary Waters for their livelihood. The proposed 30,000-acre mine would produce enormous amounts of air, water, noise, and light pollution, as well as a surge in traffic, catastrophically transforming the landscape of the now-pristine wooded wilderness. The US Forest Service produced a report stating that the mine would undoubtedly result in the seepage of toxic metals, which would cause irreversible damage to the surrounding wetlands and poison wildlife for miles around. Help protect the character and integrity of these crucially important wetlands and stop greedy mining companies from continuing to devastate our delicate precious ecosystems.

PETITION LETTER:

Dear Secretary Haaland,

We are pleading with you to help preserve Minnesota’s Boundary Waters and block Twin Metals’ proposed mining project in the Superior National Forest. If they are permitted to proceed it will be detrimental to not only the wildlife who reside miles upon miles outside of the mine itself, but also to the people who rely on the peace and cleanliness of these lands and waters to maintain their livelihood. 

America is already losing our protected lands to industry at an alarming rate, so it’s imperative that we fight to keep what little preserved acreage we have left. As I’m sure you’re well aware, the destruction left after a mine shuts down is just as damaging as it is when in operation. Therefore, this project will forever change the ecosystem as well as the community, and the life that is there now will never be able to be replaced. 

Sincerely,

[Your Name Here}

Photo Credit: P199