HJRES-140 — Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Bureau of Land Management relating to Public Land Order No. 7917 for Withdrawal of Federal Lands; Cook, Lake, and Saint Louis Counties, MN.

This bill became law on 2026-04-27 as Public Law No. 119-85.

The summary below describes the bill at the version we last reviewed; the enacted text may differ.

YourVoice.Now SummaryEnvironmental Concerns

This resolution cancels a 2023 federal order that had withdrawn roughly 225,000 acres of national forest land in Cook, Lake, and St. Louis Counties, Minnesota — in the Superior National Forest near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness — from new mineral leasing for 20 years. That withdrawal had blocked new mining claims, including copper-nickel mineral exploration, in the watershed that feeds into the Boundary Waters. By disapproving the rule under the Congressional Review Act, this resolution nullifies the withdrawal, and companies could once again file new mining claims and pursue mineral leasing on those lands. Under the Congressional Review Act, the Bureau of Land Management also cannot reissue a substantially similar withdrawal without new authorization from Congress. The change affects Minnesota communities near the Boundary Waters, the outdoor recreation and tourism businesses that depend on the area, and anyone in the watershed downstream of future mining activity.

Environmental Concerns

Mineral-leasing withdrawal — Nullified for ≈225,000 acres near the Boundary Waters Wilderness

Congressional Summary

This joint resolution opens approximately 225,504 acres of National Forest System lands in Cook, Lake, and Saint Louis Counties in Minnesota to mineral and geothermal leasing. Specifically, the joint resolution nullifies Public Land Order 7917, which withdrew such land from mineral and geothermal leasing for 20 years beginning in 2023. The Bureau of Land Management issued the order to protect and preserve the Rainy River Watershed, the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness Mining Protection Area, and the 1854 Ceded Territory of the Lake Superior Chippewa from potential adverse effects of mineral and geothermal exploration and development. The joint resolution removes such protections and allows such land to be leased for the exploration and development of minerals and geothermal energy.

Legislative Subjects

Administrative law and regulatory proceduresAlternative and renewable resourcesDepartment of the InteriorLakes and riversLand use and conservationMarine pollutionMiningMinnesota

Details

Congress: 119th
Chamber: House
Status: summarized
Action: Public Law
Action Date: 2026-04-27
Date Added: 2026-07-14
Source: Congress.gov →

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