Senate Narrowly Approves Measure to Allow Copper Mining Near Sensitive Boundary Waters
The U.S. Senate narrowly passed a controversial resolution this week that could open the door to copper-nickel sulfide mining in the pristine Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness of northern Minnesota, marking a significant setback for environmental protection efforts. The vote, secured by a margin of just one vote—50 to 49—effectively erodes a longstanding 20-year moratorium designed to shield the region from mineral exploration. Using the Congressional Review Act—a legislative tool that allows Congress to overturn federal regulations with a simple majority—the resolution was pushed forward despite intense opposition from environmental groups, local communities, and many Native American tribes. Only two












