Bill > SF3327

This bill modifies the mining restrictions within the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) in Minnesota. The key provisions are: 1. It defines the terms "Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness" and "Rainy River headwaters" for the purposes of the law. 2. It prohibits the leasing of state-owned or administered land for mineral exploration or mining within the BWCAW and the Rainy River headwaters, except in cases of national emergency declared by Congress. 3. It allows mining for taconite, iron ore, sand, gravel, and granite on state-owned or administered land in the Rainy River headwaters if the Commissioner of Natural Resources determines it will not be detrimental to the BWCAW. 4. It prohibits the leasing of state-owned or administered land for peat harvesting within the BWCAW, except in cases of national emergency declared by Congress. 5. It requires the Commissioner of Natural Resources to investigate and determine if there are reasonable alternative methods for providing needed resources before allowing any exploitation of natural resources within the BWCAW or Rainy River headwaters in case of a national emergency. 6. It designates acquired state lands within the BWCAW as state wilderness areas.