BWCA safe from mining for now?

At least it's something. Not "safe" in my opinion but it made me happier than I have been.

pastorjsackett: "At least it's something. Not "safe" in my opinion but it made me happier than I have been. "

+1

I'll take a W however I can get it. Some decent news is always appreciated.
Cheers!
martian

wow awesome. It only takes one time to allow it,and forever to keep it out.
Thanks Tina

Never mind

Of course. Why don't they just recycle all those pennies we won't be using . Why are we letting a company from Chile foul our environment? We seem to have had unlimited ability to do that ourselves already.

Access to public land is part of what really makes America stand out from other countries. These lands are not just assets on a balance sheet to be sold and developed for mineral and oil resources. They provide habitat for thousands of game and non-game species and recreational opportunities for millions of people (who spend a lot of money recreating). If we lose these lands through being sold off or mismanaged for consumptive use, we will never get them back. There is room for both recreational and consumptive uses if managed wisely, and as owners of these lands, we need to demand that the government officials that have been elected to manage these lands do so in a responsible manner. I strongly encourage everyone to reach out to and join organizations such as Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, Friends of the Boundary Waters, etc. and contact your State representatives and let them now how important not only the BWCA is, but public land in general. I think its more important now than ever to make your voice heard!

I'm not usually a boisterous political person and I'm not great with words, but the increasingly real potential of losing access to and destruction of public land has kinda lit a fire under my A**. Sorry, rant over.

Freeleo1: "Of course. Why don't they just recycle all those pennies we won't be using . Why are we letting a company from Chile foul our environment? We seem to have had unlimited ability to do that ourselves already. "

There is so much metal that is not recycled. Much better than the past, but still not good.

mhart: " There is room for both recreational and consumptive uses if managed wisely.

Ah yes! There in lies the rub! What to do with the tailings. The waste rock and processed materials from mining. The concern being possible contamination of the BWCA'S waters and ecosystems from sulfides (battery acid) and other heavy metals. Fact is the 14 primary copper mines reviewed by Earthworks in the U.S. have all had accidental releases. While specific details of these releases vary, data implies that these type of releases are a common occurrence in the copper mining industry and that the soil in the BWCA is especially vulnerable to these toxins.

Best solution would be the relocation of these toxic tailings to a safe distance from the BWCA watershed. That of course would reduce the profits of the mining organizations.