Draft USFS plans says hard-rock mining a threat to Boundary Waters Wilderness; proposes 20-year ban

A federal study released Thursday determined hardrock mining in a Minnesota wilderness area would risk contaminating the area.

In its assessment, the U.S. Forest Service said copper-nickel mining would pose a major risk to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. While the assessment is a draft, it proposes a 20-year ban on copper mining on federal lands in the watershed.

https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/3535013-forest-service-finds-mining-would-pose-risk-to-minnesota-watershed/