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H.R.2794 / 117th Congress

Boundary Waters Wilderness Protection and Pollution Prevention Act

Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 457.

Official summary

Version 07 · Reported to House · Dec 14, 2022

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

entry, appropriation, and disposal under the public land laws;

location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; and

operation of the mineral leasing, mineral materials, and geothermal leasing laws.

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 Land or interest in land within such area that is acquired by the United States shall be immediately withdrawn in accordance with this bill.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.

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Who introduced it

Rep. McCollum, Betty [D-MN-4] · D–MN

Committees

  • Natural Resources Committee
58 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Actions

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  1. Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 457.

  2. Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 117-634.

  3. Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 117-634.

  4. Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 24 - 16.

  5. Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

  6. Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands Discharged.

  7. Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources Discharged.

  8. Subcommittee Hearings Held.

  9. Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.

  10. Referred to the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands.

  11. Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.

  12. Introduced in House

  13. Introduced in House

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

Source last updated: Apr 7, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.R.2794 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

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Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

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Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

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Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

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