*From* *Sierra Club Minnesota Chapter* *Protect The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness* People are drawn to the Boundary Waters Wilderness in Minnesota because of its million acres of wildlands, 1000 pristine lakes and streams, 1500 miles of canoe routes, incredible beauty, and unlimited opportunities to enjoy the outdoors. Unfortunately, these pristine lands and waters continue to be threatened by toxic sulfide ore mining that could forever pollute this area. Antofagasta, a Chilean copper-mining giant, and Twin Metals are proposing a vast sulfide-ore copper mine on federal lands adjacent to and draining into the wilderness. Sulfide mining would pollute rivers and groundwater for hundreds of years and is unacceptably risky in the water-rich environment of Northeastern Minnesota. Right now, the Biden Administration is considering a 20-year moratorium on copper-sulfide mining on 225,000 acres of federal land surrounding the Boundary Waters, and we need everyone to show their support for this moratorium. Public comments are due January 19 - please submit yours today <https://act.sierraclub.org/actions/Minnesota?actionId=AR0345216>! *From* *Campaign to Save the Boundary Waters* Today we honor the legacy of former U.S. Vice President, Minnesota hero, & Boundary Waters ally, Walter Mondale, who passed away last year. He fought tirelessly to protect the Boundary Waters for future generations. Now it’s up to all of us to fill his shoes *You can help by joining a public listening session next week! <https://click.everyaction.com/k/40397021/324164206/435890596?nvep=ew0KICAiVGVuYW50VXJpIjogIm5ncHZhbjovL3Zhbi9FQS9FQTAwMi8xLzY4NTA4IiwNCiAgIkRpc3RyaWJ1dGlvblVuaXF1ZUlkIjogImU2YTNmZDZkLTc3NmUtZWMxMS05NGY2LWM4OTY2NTBkOTIzYyIsDQogICJFbWFpbEFkZHJlc3MiOiAibm9ybS5zaGFycEBhdHQubmV0Ig0KfQ%3D%3D&hmac=VG59uyhX6WEHyZkuED05mLyx0GaX5iPIX9WkYCxs1DA=&emci=a4ea8efc-886d-ec11-94f6-c896650d923c&emdi=e6a3fd6d-776e-ec11-94f6-c896650d923c&ceid=3427073>* The U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management are hosting three public listening sessions in January as part of their process to collect public input on the proposed 20-year ban on copper mining on federal lands within the Boundary Waters watershed. *These meetings are great opportunities for you to have your voice heard. Don’t wait to sign up – space is limited.* *Wednesday, Jan. 12,* 2022, from 1 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., CST *RSVP for Jan. 12 * <https://click.everyaction.com/k/40397023/324164208/1011575918?nvep=ew0KICAiVGVuYW50VXJpIjogIm5ncHZhbjovL3Zhbi9FQS9FQTAwMi8xLzY4NTA4IiwNCiAgIkRpc3RyaWJ1dGlvblVuaXF1ZUlkIjogImU2YTNmZDZkLTc3NmUtZWMxMS05NGY2LWM4OTY2NTBkOTIzYyIsDQogICJFbWFpbEFkZHJlc3MiOiAibm9ybS5zaGFycEBhdHQubmV0Ig0KfQ%3D%3D&hmac=VG59uyhX6WEHyZkuED05mLyx0GaX5iPIX9WkYCxs1DA=&emci=a4ea8efc-886d-ec11-94f6-c896650d923c&emdi=e6a3fd6d-776e-ec11-94f6-c896650d923c&ceid=3427073> *Saturday, Jan. 15*, 2022, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., CST *RSVP for Jan. 15* <https://click.everyaction.com/k/40397024/324164209/304861348?nvep=ew0KICAiVGVuYW50VXJpIjogIm5ncHZhbjovL3Zhbi9FQS9FQTAwMi8xLzY4NTA4IiwNCiAgIkRpc3RyaWJ1dGlvblVuaXF1ZUlkIjogImU2YTNmZDZkLTc3NmUtZWMxMS05NGY2LWM4OTY2NTBkOTIzYyIsDQogICJFbWFpbEFkZHJlc3MiOiAibm9ybS5zaGFycEBhdHQubmV0Ig0KfQ%3D%3D&hmac=VG59uyhX6WEHyZkuED05mLyx0GaX5iPIX9WkYCxs1DA=&emci=a4ea8efc-886d-ec11-94f6-c896650d923c&emdi=e6a3fd6d-776e-ec11-94f6-c896650d923c&ceid=3427073> *Tuesday, Jan. 18*, 2022, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., CST *RSVP for Jan. 18* <https://click.everyaction.com/k/40397025/324164210/1692964327?nvep=ew0KICAiVGVuYW50VXJpIjogIm5ncHZhbjovL3Zhbi9FQS9FQTAwMi8xLzY4NTA4IiwNCiAgIkRpc3RyaWJ1dGlvblVuaXF1ZUlkIjogImU2YTNmZDZkLTc3NmUtZWMxMS05NGY2LWM4OTY2NTBkOTIzYyIsDQogICJFbWFpbEFkZHJlc3MiOiAibm9ybS5zaGFycEBhdHQubmV0Ig0KfQ%3D%3D&hmac=VG59uyhX6WEHyZkuED05mLyx0GaX5iPIX9WkYCxs1DA=&emci=a4ea8efc-886d-ec11-94f6-c896650d923c&emdi=e6a3fd6d-776e-ec11-94f6-c896650d923c&ceid=3427073> When you sign up, you can select if you’d like to provide a verbal comment. They will use a lottery system to randomly select speakers from the list of registrants. Those chosen to speak will receive an email confirmation from the agency at least 24 hours before the session. Spoken comments can be up to 3 minutes during the public meeting. *Be sure to indicate that you’d like to be put in the speaker lottery when you register!* After you sign up with them, be sure to *TELL US HERE <https://click.everyaction.com/k/40397026/324164211/-505106383?ts=61d367cc&nvep=ew0KICAiVGVuYW50VXJpIjogIm5ncHZhbjovL3Zhbi9FQS9FQTAwMi8xLzY4NTA4IiwNCiAgIkRpc3RyaWJ1dGlvblVuaXF1ZUlkIjogImU2YTNmZDZkLTc3NmUtZWMxMS05NGY2LWM4OTY2NTBkOTIzYyIsDQogICJFbWFpbEFkZHJlc3MiOiAibm9ybS5zaGFycEBhdHQubmV0Ig0KfQ%3D%3D&hmac=VG59uyhX6WEHyZkuED05mLyx0GaX5iPIX9WkYCxs1DA=&emci=a4ea8efc-886d-ec11-94f6-c896650d923c&emdi=e6a3fd6d-776e-ec11-94f6-c896650d923c&ceid=3427073>* which date you signed up for so we can send you helpful information you might need if you are asked to speak during the listening session. Thank you! Showing up (virtually) is an important action you can take to demonstrate to decision-makers the overwhelming support for protecting the Wilderness from sulfide-ore copper mining. For the Wilderness, Ingrid Lyons Interim Executive Director Campaign to Save the Boundary Waters *P.S. Join The Raptor Center and us VIRTUALLY on Tuesday, Jan. 11 at 6 pm CT* to meet some awesome birds of prey and find out how you can get involved and feel more prepared for these upcoming virtual public listening sessions. *RSVP here. <https://click.everyaction.com/k/40397027/324164212/2122956148?nvep=ew0KICAiVGVuYW50VXJpIjogIm5ncHZhbjovL3Zhbi9FQS9FQTAwMi8xLzY4NTA4IiwNCiAgIkRpc3RyaWJ1dGlvblVuaXF1ZUlkIjogImU2YTNmZDZkLTc3NmUtZWMxMS05NGY2LWM4OTY2NTBkOTIzYyIsDQogICJFbWFpbEFkZHJlc3MiOiAibm9ybS5zaGFycEBhdHQubmV0Ig0KfQ%3D%3D&hmac=VG59uyhX6WEHyZkuED05mLyx0GaX5iPIX9WkYCxs1DA=&emci=a4ea8efc-886d-ec11-94f6-c896650d923c&emdi=e6a3fd6d-776e-ec11-94f6-c896650d923c&ceid=3427073>* -- *Debbie Neustadt * *Des Moines, Iowa* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * To unsubscribe from the IOWA-TOPICS list, send any message to [log in to unmask] Sign in to Listserv online to manage your subscribtions (http://lists.sierraclub.org/SCRIPTS/WA.EXE?LOGON). 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