225,000 Acres Just Came Back Into Play

Tractor plowing a vast green field at sunset.

House Republicans advance a critical vote to dismantle Biden’s last-minute mining ban near America’s cherished Boundary Waters, prioritizing American jobs and energy security over radical environmental overreach.

Story Snapshot

Rep. Pete Stauber leads H.J. Res. 140 using the Congressional Review Act to overturn a 20-year Biden-era withdrawal on 225,000 acres upstream of the BWCAW.
Minnesota’s mining heritage and school funding hang in the balance against foreign mining interests and conservationist opposition.
Trump administration officials back the move, building on 2025 CRA successes in other states for domestic mineral production.
Unprecedented CRA application could unlock critical copper mining while sportsmen warn of pollution risks to pristine wilderness.

House Republicans Target Biden’s Mineral Withdrawal

Rep. Pete Stauber (R-Minn.), chair of the Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources, introduced H.J. Res. 140. This resolution invokes the Congressional Review Act to nullify a 2023 Interior Department order withdrawing 225,000 acres in Minnesota’s Rainy River Watershed from new mining. The land sits upstream of the 1-million-acre Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, a vital hunting and fishing destination. Republicans control the House for a straightforward passage.

Minnesota Mining Legacy vs. Environmental Claims

Minnesota boasts a 145-year mining history that funds schools through its trust fund and sustains northern communities. Proponents argue the withdrawal illegally blocks access to copper-nickel deposits needed for national security and technology. Foreign-owned Twin Metals pushes for sulfide-ore extraction, promising jobs. Opponents, citing 675,000 public comments with 98% favoring protections, fear acid mine drainage polluting over 1,000 lakes along the U.S.-Canada border. President Trump’s team, including USDA head Brook Rollins and Interior Sec. Doug Burgum, supports reversal for American energy independence.

Unprecedented Use of Congressional Review Act

The CRA strategy marks a novel application against a public land withdrawal, not a formal agency rule. An Interior Department filing entered the Congressional Record the week before January 14, 2026, enabling fast-track review. This follows 2025 GOP successes overturning similar protections in Alaska, Montana, and North Dakota, signed by President Trump. Prior attempts, like Stauber’s budget rider and HR 978, failed due to Senate hurdles. Stauber deems the Biden action illegal, urging swift House action to Trump’s desk.

Stakeholder Battle and Political Dynamics

Sen. Tina Smith (D-Minn.) decries the effort as a devious ploy favoring a Chilean-linked firm over Minnesotan will. Conservation groups like Save the Boundary Waters, led by Ingrid Lyons, and Backcountry Hunters & Anglers, with CEO Ryan Callaghan, rally against pollution threats. House Republicans leverage their majority, but Senate filibuster and parliamentarian rulings pose challenges. Trump backing bolsters momentum, aligning with conservative priorities for limited government overreach and domestic resource development.

Potential Impacts on Economy and Wilderness

Short-term passage would lift the ban, fast-tracking Twin Metals permits and boosting local mining economies. Long-term, it sets a nationwide precedent for challenging land withdrawals, aiding critical minerals for EVs and tech while inviting lawsuits. Northern miners and schools stand to gain, but BWCAW users risk watershed damage affecting tourism and recreation. The divide pits economic vitality against preservation, with pro-mining northern locals clashing against broader conservation voices.