Local View: Boundary Waters a priceless treasure

So don’t trust the claims of the polluting copper-mining industry The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness is one of Minnesota’s and this nation’s most priceless assets. It is the centerpiece of the sustainable economies that have developed across the Arrowhead. The U.S. Forest Service currently is considering whether to consent to the renewal of two leases related to the potential mining of sulfide-ore that contains copper on the border of and upstream from the Boundary Waters.  
Recent polling shows two-thirds of Minnesotans, including 61 percent in the 8th Congressional District, do not want this kind of mining near the Boundary Waters. Gov. Mark Dayton is strongly opposed to the project, so opposed he denied the use of state lands to Twin Metals. Also opposed are former Vice President Walter Mondale of Minnesota, Northeastern Minnesota businesses, tribes, scientists, veterans, and dozens of local and national conservation and sportsmen’s groups.[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"2695363","attributes":{"alt":"","class":"media-image","height":"120","title":"Dave Zentner","typeof":"foaf:Image","width":"83"}}]]The South American mining conglomerate behind the project and its local arm, Twin Metals, claim they can mine right up to the edge of the Boundary Waters without impacting the quality of its water - some of the purest water in the world - and without negatively affecting the character of the wilderness.When an industry responsible for the destruction of thousands of miles of streams and waterways, resulting in billions in cleanup costs, says it is pursuing an environmentally responsible project right next to the Boundary Waters - America’s most popular wilderness - it’s just not credible. Especially given that a study of 14 copper mines in the U.S., representing 89 percent of U.S. copper production, showed that all of them leaked toxic chemicals into nearby waters. The ultimate owner of the proposed Twin Metals mine, Antofagasta, was responsible for the largest amount of toxic spills into the waters of the region in Chile where its flagship copper mine, Los Pelambres, is located.Twin Metals asserts that because the leases were first issued in 1966 they should be renewed now. But all that really means is that they were issued before our nation’s bedrock environmental laws were enacted. Accordingly, the leases never underwent any real kind of environmental review. Twin Metals’ claim that prior renewal of the leases gives it some kind of right is false - especially with respect to the most recent renewal, which occurred in 2004. The federal administration in power at that time was trumpeting its mantra of “drill baby drill,” and it was perfectly willing to cede our public lands to narrow private industry interests. The renewals gave little consideration to the environmental impact of sulfide-ore copper mining nor asked for public input about whether America’s most toxic industry should be permitted next to America’s most popular wilderness.Since 2004, we’ve learned a lot about what Twin Metals wants to do and about the effect of copper mining in wet places. Independent science shows contamination from a Twin Metals mine to be virtually inevitable. We have seen the devastation other mines like this have caused, such as Mount Polley in British Columbia, where a state-of-the-art copper mine experienced a catastrophic failure and dumped billions of gallons of toxic slurry into one of the world’s deepest glacial lakes and a priceless salmon area.Given the slew of facts surrounding the miserable track record of sulfide-ore copper mining in the United States and around the world, it is easy to see why the U.S. Forest Service is concerned about “potential impacts to water resources, (including) changes in water quantity and quality, contamination from acid mine drainage, and seepage of tailings water, tailings basin failures and waste rock treatment locations.”The Forest Service says it will make its decision regarding lease renewals based on science, and it should. The science and experience clearly show that sulfide-ore copper mining in the watershed of the Boundary Waters is simply too great a risk. Craig Sterle of Barnum is the conservation issues chairman for the McCabe Chapter of the Izaak Walton League, and Dave  Zentner of Duluth is the past national president of the Izaak Walton League and a member of the McCabe Chapter of the Izaak Walton League.    So don’t trust the claims of the polluting copper-mining industry The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness is one of Minnesota’s and this nation’s most priceless assets. It is the centerpiece of the sustainable economies that have developed across the Arrowhead. The U.S. Forest Service currently is considering whether to consent to the renewal of two leases related to the potential mining of sulfide-ore that contains copper on the border of and upstream from the Boundary Waters.  [[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"2695361","attributes":{"alt":"","class":"media-image","height":"120","title":"Craig Sterle","typeof":"foaf:Image","width":"83"}}]]Recent polling shows two-thirds of Minnesotans, including 61 percent in the 8th Congressional District, do not want this kind of mining near the Boundary Waters. Gov. Mark Dayton is strongly opposed to the project, so opposed he denied the use of state lands to Twin Metals. Also opposed are former Vice President Walter Mondale of Minnesota, Northeastern Minnesota businesses, tribes, scientists, veterans, and dozens of local and national conservation and sportsmen’s groups.
The South American mining conglomerate behind the project and its local arm, Twin Metals, claim they can mine right up to the edge of the Boundary Waters without impacting the quality of its water - some of the purest water in the world - and without negatively affecting the character of the wilderness.When an industry responsible for the destruction of thousands of miles of streams and waterways, resulting in billions in cleanup costs, says it is pursuing an environmentally responsible project right next to the Boundary Waters - America’s most popular wilderness - it’s just not credible. Especially given that a study of 14 copper mines in the U.S., representing 89 percent of U.S. copper production, showed that all of them leaked toxic chemicals into nearby waters. The ultimate owner of the proposed Twin Metals mine, Antofagasta, was responsible for the largest amount of toxic spills into the waters of the region in Chile where its flagship copper mine, Los Pelambres, is located.Twin Metals asserts that because the leases were first issued in 1966 they should be renewed now. But all that really means is that they were issued before our nation’s bedrock environmental laws were enacted. Accordingly, the leases never underwent any real kind of environmental review. Twin Metals’ claim that prior renewal of the leases gives it some kind of right is false - especially with respect to the most recent renewal, which occurred in 2004. The federal administration in power at that time was trumpeting its mantra of “drill baby drill,” and it was perfectly willing to cede our public lands to narrow private industry interests. The renewals gave little consideration to the environmental impact of sulfide-ore copper mining nor asked for public input about whether America’s most toxic industry should be permitted next to America’s most popular wilderness.Since 2004, we’ve learned a lot about what Twin Metals wants to do and about the effect of copper mining in wet places. Independent science shows contamination from a Twin Metals mine to be virtually inevitable. We have seen the devastation other mines like this have caused, such as Mount Polley in British Columbia, where a state-of-the-art copper mine experienced a catastrophic failure and dumped billions of gallons of toxic slurry into one of the world’s deepest glacial lakes and a priceless salmon area.Given the slew of facts surrounding the miserable track record of sulfide-ore copper mining in the United States and around the world, it is easy to see why the U.S. Forest Service is concerned about “potential impacts to water resources, (including) changes in water quantity and quality, contamination from acid mine drainage, and seepage of tailings water, tailings basin failures and waste rock treatment locations.”The Forest Service says it will make its decision regarding lease renewals based on science, and it should. The science and experience clearly show that sulfide-ore copper mining in the watershed of the Boundary Waters is simply too great a risk. Craig Sterle of Barnum is the conservation issues chairman for the McCabe Chapter of the Izaak Walton League, and Dave  Zentner of Duluth is the past national president of the Izaak Walton League and a member of the McCabe Chapter of the Izaak Walton League.    So don’t trust the claims of the polluting copper-mining industryThe Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness is one of Minnesota’s and this nation’s most priceless assets. It is the centerpiece of the sustainable economies that have developed across the Arrowhead. The U.S. Forest Service currently is considering whether to consent to the renewal of two leases related to the potential mining of sulfide-ore that contains copper on the border of and upstream from the Boundary Waters.  
Recent polling shows two-thirds of Minnesotans, including 61 percent in the 8th Congressional District, do not want this kind of mining near the Boundary Waters. Gov. Mark Dayton is strongly opposed to the project, so opposed he denied the use of state lands to Twin Metals. Also opposed are former Vice President Walter Mondale of Minnesota, Northeastern Minnesota businesses, tribes, scientists, veterans, and dozens of local and national conservation and sportsmen’s groups.[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"2695363","attributes":{"alt":"","class":"media-image","height":"120","title":"Dave Zentner","typeof":"foaf:Image","width":"83"}}]]The South American mining conglomerate behind the project and its local arm, Twin Metals, claim they can mine right up to the edge of the Boundary Waters without impacting the quality of its water - some of the purest water in the world - and without negatively affecting the character of the wilderness.When an industry responsible for the destruction of thousands of miles of streams and waterways, resulting in billions in cleanup costs, says it is pursuing an environmentally responsible project right next to the Boundary Waters - America’s most popular wilderness - it’s just not credible. Especially given that a study of 14 copper mines in the U.S., representing 89 percent of U.S. copper production, showed that all of them leaked toxic chemicals into nearby waters. The ultimate owner of the proposed Twin Metals mine, Antofagasta, was responsible for the largest amount of toxic spills into the waters of the region in Chile where its flagship copper mine, Los Pelambres, is located.Twin Metals asserts that because the leases were first issued in 1966 they should be renewed now. But all that really means is that they were issued before our nation’s bedrock environmental laws were enacted. Accordingly, the leases never underwent any real kind of environmental review. Twin Metals’ claim that prior renewal of the leases gives it some kind of right is false - especially with respect to the most recent renewal, which occurred in 2004. The federal administration in power at that time was trumpeting its mantra of “drill baby drill,” and it was perfectly willing to cede our public lands to narrow private industry interests. The renewals gave little consideration to the environmental impact of sulfide-ore copper mining nor asked for public input about whether America’s most toxic industry should be permitted next to America’s most popular wilderness.Since 2004, we’ve learned a lot about what Twin Metals wants to do and about the effect of copper mining in wet places. Independent science shows contamination from a Twin Metals mine to be virtually inevitable. We have seen the devastation other mines like this have caused, such as Mount Polley in British Columbia, where a state-of-the-art copper mine experienced a catastrophic failure and dumped billions of gallons of toxic slurry into one of the world’s deepest glacial lakes and a priceless salmon area.Given the slew of facts surrounding the miserable track record of sulfide-ore copper mining in the United States and around the world, it is easy to see why the U.S. Forest Service is concerned about “potential impacts to water resources, (including) changes in water quantity and quality, contamination from acid mine drainage, and seepage of tailings water, tailings basin failures and waste rock treatment locations.”The Forest Service says it will make its decision regarding lease renewals based on science, and it should. The science and experience clearly show that sulfide-ore copper mining in the watershed of the Boundary Waters is simply too great a risk. Craig Sterle of Barnum is the conservation issues chairman for the McCabe Chapter of the Izaak Walton League, and Dave  Zentner of Duluth is the past national president of the Izaak Walton League and a member of the McCabe Chapter of the Izaak Walton League.  So don’t trust the claims of the polluting copper-mining industryThe Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness is one of Minnesota’s and this nation’s most priceless assets. It is the centerpiece of the sustainable economies that have developed across the Arrowhead. The U.S. Forest Service currently is considering whether to consent to the renewal of two leases related to the potential mining of sulfide-ore that contains copper on the border of and upstream from the Boundary Waters.  [[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"2695361","attributes":{"alt":"","class":"media-image","height":"120","title":"Craig Sterle","typeof":"foaf:Image","width":"83"}}]]Recent polling shows two-thirds of Minnesotans, including 61 percent in the 8th Congressional District, do not want this kind of mining near the Boundary Waters. Gov. Mark Dayton is strongly opposed to the project, so opposed he denied the use of state lands to Twin Metals. Also opposed are former Vice President Walter Mondale of Minnesota, Northeastern Minnesota businesses, tribes, scientists, veterans, and dozens of local and national conservation and sportsmen’s groups.
The South American mining conglomerate behind the project and its local arm, Twin Metals, claim they can mine right up to the edge of the Boundary Waters without impacting the quality of its water - some of the purest water in the world - and without negatively affecting the character of the wilderness.When an industry responsible for the destruction of thousands of miles of streams and waterways, resulting in billions in cleanup costs, says it is pursuing an environmentally responsible project right next to the Boundary Waters - America’s most popular wilderness - it’s just not credible. Especially given that a study of 14 copper mines in the U.S., representing 89 percent of U.S. copper production, showed that all of them leaked toxic chemicals into nearby waters. The ultimate owner of the proposed Twin Metals mine, Antofagasta, was responsible for the largest amount of toxic spills into the waters of the region in Chile where its flagship copper mine, Los Pelambres, is located.Twin Metals asserts that because the leases were first issued in 1966 they should be renewed now. But all that really means is that they were issued before our nation’s bedrock environmental laws were enacted. Accordingly, the leases never underwent any real kind of environmental review. Twin Metals’ claim that prior renewal of the leases gives it some kind of right is false - especially with respect to the most recent renewal, which occurred in 2004. The federal administration in power at that time was trumpeting its mantra of “drill baby drill,” and it was perfectly willing to cede our public lands to narrow private industry interests. The renewals gave little consideration to the environmental impact of sulfide-ore copper mining nor asked for public input about whether America’s most toxic industry should be permitted next to America’s most popular wilderness.Since 2004, we’ve learned a lot about what Twin Metals wants to do and about the effect of copper mining in wet places. Independent science shows contamination from a Twin Metals mine to be virtually inevitable. We have seen the devastation other mines like this have caused, such as Mount Polley in British Columbia, where a state-of-the-art copper mine experienced a catastrophic failure and dumped billions of gallons of toxic slurry into one of the world’s deepest glacial lakes and a priceless salmon area.Given the slew of facts surrounding the miserable track record of sulfide-ore copper mining in the United States and around the world, it is easy to see why the U.S. Forest Service is concerned about “potential impacts to water resources, (including) changes in water quantity and quality, contamination from acid mine drainage, and seepage of tailings water, tailings basin failures and waste rock treatment locations.”The Forest Service says it will make its decision regarding lease renewals based on science, and it should. The science and experience clearly show that sulfide-ore copper mining in the watershed of the Boundary Waters is simply too great a risk. Craig Sterle of Barnum is the conservation issues chairman for the McCabe Chapter of the Izaak Walton League, and Dave  Zentner of Duluth is the past national president of the Izaak Walton League and a member of the McCabe Chapter of the Izaak Walton League.