Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland Signs Action Banning Mineral Mining in northern Minnesota Wilderness Area

This is the second major public land protection announced by the Biden-Harris administration this week

Image: Gary, Adobe Stock

On January 26, 2023, Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland signed a public land order that will ban new mineral and geothermal mining leases on approximately 225,504 acres the in the Superior National Forest of northern Minnesota for the next 20 years. This action will protect the watersheds of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, a popular destination for canoeists, hikers, campers and tourists, and the 1854 Ceded Territory of the Chippewa Bands.

“The Department of the Interior takes seriously our obligations to steward public lands and waters on behalf of all Americans. Protecting a place like Boundary Waters is key to supporting the health of the watershed and its surrounding wildlife, upholding our Tribal trust and treaty responsibilities, and boosting the local recreation economy,” said Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland. “With an eye toward protecting this special place for future generations, I have made this decision using the best-available science and extensive public input.” 

This is the second major public land protection initiative put into place by the Biden-Harris administration this week.