WASHINGTON -- A measure introduced by Rep. Betty McCollum this week that would prohibit all future mining on federally managed lands in the Rainy River Watershed area up in northern Minnesota drew the ire from the Democrat who represents the area. Democratic Rep. Rick Nolan, who represents northeastern Minnesota, including the Iron Range and the Boundary Waters Canoe Area, said late Wednesday in a somewhat breathless statement that he would "vigorously oppose" McCollum's legislation. "The simple truth is this bill is a duplicative, overlapping regulatory scheme designed to prohibit mining on the Iron Range," Nolan said. "The fact is, we have the brains, technology and regulations to both mine and protect the environment."
He went on, "Mining is what we do on the Range and is at the heart of our regional and national economy. This is truly a "Made in America" industry -- with 140 prosperous years of quality products and thousands of good-paying jobs."
McCollum, who represents St. Paul and has a high-ranking spot on the House Appropriations Interior subcommittee, said she crafted the proposal because she wanted to ensure water flowing into Voyageurs National Park and Boundary Waters Canoe Area "is as clean and clear as the water inside those protected areas." McCollum's bill has an uncertain future in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives. She said Thursday in an interview that she "lives in the real world and I think it's pretty slim." She called Nolan's statement misleading. "I think Rick and I both share a goal in recognizing the treasures and the fact that boundary waters do need protection but my bill, contrary to what his release looks like, only prohibits the federal government from issuing any new leases on federal lands. So it doesn't ban mining," she said.
