Boundary Waters Wilderness Protection and Pollution Prevention Act
Bill: H.R.2794 | Sponsor: Rep. McCollum, Betty (D-MN)
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources

Summary:
Boundary Waters Wilderness Protection and Pollution Prevention Act
This bill withdraws certain federal lands and waters in Minnesota from mining and related activities.
Specifically, the bill withdraws approximately 234,328 acres of federal land and waters in a specified area in the Rainy River Watershed of Superior National Forest from
The area is adjacent to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness Mining Protection Area. Land or interest in land within such area that is acquired by the United States shall be immediately withdrawn in accordance with this bill.
The Forest Service is authorized to permit the removal of sand, granite, iron ore, and taconite from national forest system lands within such area if the removal is not detrimental to the water quality, air quality, and health of forest habitat within the Rainy River Watershed.

To provide for the protection of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area 
   Wilderness and interconnected Federal lands and waters, including 
Voyageurs National Park, within the Rainy River Watershed in the State 
                 of Minnesota, and for other purposes.


 


    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Boundary Waters Wilderness 
Protection and Pollution Prevention Act''.

SEC. 2. WITHDRAWAL OF CERTAIN FEDERAL LANDS AND WATERS IN THE STATE OF 
              MINNESOTA.

    (a) Definition of Map.--In this Act, the term ``Map'' means the map 
prepared by the Forest Service entitled ``Superior National Forest 
Mineral Withdrawal Application Map'' and dated December 5, 2016.
    (b) Withdrawal.--Except as provided in subsection (d) and subject 
to valid existing rights, the approximately 234,328 acres of Federal 
land and waters in the Rainy River Watershed of the Superior National 
Forest in the State of Minnesota, as located on the Map and described 
in the Federal Register Notice of Application for Withdrawal, dated 
January 19, 2017 (82 Fed. Reg. 6639), are hereby withdrawn from--
            (1) all forms of entry, appropriation, and disposal under 
        the public land laws;
            (2) location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; and
            (3) operation of the mineral leasing, mineral materials, 
        and geothermal leasing laws.
    (c) Acquired Land.--Any land or interest in land within the area 
depicted on the Map that is acquired by the United States after the 
date of enactment of this Act shall, on acquisition, be immediately 
withdrawn in accordance with this section.
    (d) Removal of Sand, Gravel, Granite, Iron Ore, and Taconite.--The 
Chief of the Forest Service is authorized to permit the removal of 
sand, gravel, granite, iron ore, and taconite from national forest 
system lands within the area depicted on the Map if the Chief 
determines that the removal is not detrimental to the water quality, 
air quality, and health of the forest habitat within the Rainy River 
Watershed.
    (e) Availability of Map.--The Map shall be kept on file and made 
available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of the 
Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management.
                                                 Union Calendar No. 457

117th CONGRESS

  2d Session

                               H. R. 2794

                          [Report No. 117-634]

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