MEMO: Public lands on the chopping block in western states and Minnesota

Jun 3, 2025
by
Libby London

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: Libby London (612) 227-8407
June 3, 2025

 

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Dear reporters and editors,

Today, U.S. Senator Mike Lee confirmed that he intends to put back into the Reconciliation Bill the major public lands sell off provision that was stripped out of the House version of the bill, HR 1, or the “Big Beautiful Bill,” just two weeks ago. Public land and access advocates across the country are united in their fight to keep public land selloff language out of the bill – like the new Lee provision and the Boundary Waters provision that would sell off 6,000 acres of Superior National Forest immediately upstream of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. These efforts to block Americans from accessing their public lands and waters must be removed from the reconciliation bill.

Language in the Reconciliation Bill, H.R. 1, would grant forever rights to 6,000 acres of Superior National Forest located adjacent to and immediately upstream of the Boundary Waters. The recipient of this outrageous gift would be Antofagasta, a foreign copper mining company. The proposed language would also strip protections from a vast area in the watershed of the Boundary Waters and bar any judicial review of these actions.

Senator Lee’s confirmation comes as the Senate develops its own version of the Reconciliation Bill, which is targeted for July 4 passage. Republicans and Democrats must work together to remove these provisions from the Budget Reconciliation Bill to protect America’s public lands and our access to these incredible places.

Statement:
"Now is the time to stand up for America’s public lands. From the Boundary Waters of Minnesota to the wild landscapes of Nevada and Utah, these cherished places are under threat in Washington through the budget reconciliation process. Public lands are more than open spaces — they are a shared national legacy and heritage that bring Americans together. In this critical moment, where access to our cherished public lands is on the chopping block, people all across the country who love our public lands are standing united in their defense."

- Ingrid Lyons, Executive Director, Save the Boundary Waters

Background:

Public Lands sell off in HR 1 is vehemently opposed by organizations across the sportsmen and conservation communities, including by Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, the National Wildlife Federation, Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, National Parks Conservation Association, Outdoor Recreation Roundtable, The Wilderness Society, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, League of Conservation Voters, and dozens more.


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