A Chilean mining company has filed to renew mineral leases just outside Ely, Minn., so it can build sulfide ore copper mines on the border of Minnesota's Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA). To combat this effort, a non-profit has been created to unify hunters and fishermen, help bring awareness to the issue and prevent the destruction of the wilderness area.
Sportsmen for the Boundary Waters is seeking permanent protection of the area immediately surrounding the BWCA. While iron ore mines have a long history in Minnesota, sulfide ore copper mines are very different and can have devastating effects on the environment.