Minnesota wilderness group urges state, federal action to prevent mining in boundary waters

The U.S. Senate could vote Wednesday on legislation that would roll back protections against mining in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. If passed, this would overturn a 20-year ban on mining across more than 200,000 acres of the Superior National Forest that was put in place in 2023. The measure led by Minnesota Republican congressman Pete Stauber passed the House back in January. It has stalled in the Senate since. Chris Knopf, executive director of Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness, joined MPR News host Kelly Gordon to talk about the possible vote.