A renewed effort to end a two-decade ban on mining near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in Minnesota, a popular destination for campers in Minnesota prompted environmentalists to speak out about the impact. 

What's happening?

According to the Associated Press, House Republicans voted to end the moratorium that banned mining in the area. If approved by the Senate, the resolution will go to the president for his signature. 

A plan to mine metals in the Superior National Forest was blocked in 2023. However, the news of a Chilean mining company's interest in opening a copper mine in the area reportedly reignited efforts to end the ban.  

U.S. Rep. Pete Stauber called the moratorium "an attack on our way of life," according to the AP. Meanwhile, Jackie Feinberg, the national lands conservation campaign manager for the Sierra Club, said mining is a threat to the area. 

"This push by the Trump administration and their Congressional allies to allow toxic mining in the Boundary Waters watershed puts this fragile ecosystem at risk, and is a clear giveaway to corporate polluters," Feinberg said in a statement. 

Why are mining restrictions important?

The economic benefits of mining come with significant environmental impacts. According to data published in the Journal of Environmental Management, mining can lead to water contamination, air pollution, land degradation, and biodiversity loss. 

Much of the environmental pollution caused by mining operations comes from mining tailings leakage, according to Earth.org. Mining tailings are described as radioactive or toxic materials left behind after the valuable material has been extracted. 

Mining and mineral processing operations also consume massive amounts of water, per Earth.org. Plus, the amount of pollution emitted into the air during the mining process is substantial and contributes to rising global temperatures.

What's being done about the environmental impact of mining?

A biotechnology company recently joined forces with a mining company to test a new technology that could increase nickel extraction efficiency. The technology would ultimately lead to decreased costs and lower environmental impact. 

There has also been an uptick in mining restrictions around the world. In 2025, the president of Ghana announced a sweeping ban on mining on protected land. Elsewhere, officials in Colombia said they will no longer approve large-scale mining projects in an effort to protect the Amazon region.

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