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119-s-1366119th Congress

Boundary Waters Wilderness Protection Act

Sponsored By: Senator Smith, Tina [D-MN]

Introduced

Summary

Withdraws about 225,500 acres around the Boundary Waters from new mining, leasing, and public-land disposals to protect water, air, and forest habitat. It would remove the specified federal lands and waters in the Rainy River Watershed from entry under the public land laws and from location and patent under the mining laws, and it would bar operation of mineral leasing, mineral materials, and geothermal leasing laws in the withdrawal area while preserving valid existing rights.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Protect Rainy River watershed lands

This bill would withdraw about 225,504 acres of federal land and water in the Rainy River Watershed from new public-land entry, mining claims, and mineral leasing. Valid existing rights would still be allowed. The Forest Service chief would only be able to permit removal of sand, gravel, granite, iron ore, or taconite if the removal would not harm water quality, air quality, or forest habitat. The referenced map and boundary figure would be kept on file and available for public inspection. The withdrawal would also cover lands or water interests the United States acquires inside the boundary after enactment and would take effect upon enactment.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Smith, Tina [D-MN]

MN • D

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Welch, Peter [D-VT]

    VT • D

    Sponsored 7/8/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
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