Boundary Waters Wilderness Protection and Pollution Prevention Act

Protection of Natural Resources and Water Quality: The bill seeks to prevent contamination of the air, water, and forested habitats from sulfide-ore copper mining (Sec. 2, Findings 7, 8, 10, and 11).

Economic Support for Tourism: Protecting the area from mining could allow the region's amenity-based and tourism industry to grow, potentially adding 1,500 to 4,600 jobs and $100,000,000 to $900,000,000 in income over the next 20 years (Sec. 2, Finding 11B).

Preservation of Treaty Rights: The bill acknowledges that the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, and the Bois Forte Band of Chippewa retain hunting, fishing, and other usufructuary rights in this area (Sec. 2, Finding 4).

Protection of Cultural Sites: The wilderness area contains 1,500 cultural resource sites, including historic Ojibwe village sites and Native American pictograph panel sites (Sec. 2, Finding 2B).

Continued Resource Extraction for Specific Materials: The Chief of the Forest Service retains the authority to permit the removal of sand, gravel, granite, iron ore, and taconite, provided it does not harm the water, air, or forest habitat (Sec. 3, subsection d).

Restriction of Mineral Entry and Leasing: The bill withdraws lands and waters from all forms of entry, appropriation, disposal, and the operation of mineral and geothermal leasing laws (Sec. 3, subsection b).

Impact on Mining Development: The legislation targets the mining of metals such as copper, nickel, platinum, palladium, gold, and silver (Sec. 2, Finding 11).