Purpose

• To urge the President and the Congress to reject a proposed federal act that would affect the management and protections of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) and surrounding federal land.

What the measure says and aims to accomplish

• It describes BWCAW as a protected, pristine wilderness area in the Superior National Forest, known for its rugged terrain and popularity for canoeing, camping, hiking, and fishing.
• The memorial argues that enacting the proposed federal act would permit the federal government to operate motor vehicles, motorboats, and other motorized equipment; use aircraft; and deploy infrastructure and technology to detect illegal border crossings.
• Specific tools and systems mentioned as allowed under the proposal include observation points, remote video surveillance, motion sensors, vehicle barriers, fences, roads, bridges, drainage, and other detection devices.
• It states such changes would greatly alter and potentially diminish the unique resources and character of the BWCAW, undermining the purpose of the Wilderness Act, which aims to keep wilderness areas untrammeled by man.
• The memorial emphasizes the long-standing goal of wilderness protection for current and future generations.

How this would change existing law (significant changes highlighted)

• The proposed act would amend the Wilderness Act to authorize motorized access and the use of aircraft and detection infrastructure within the BWCAW and nearby federal lands.
• It would allow active border-detection measures that are currently restricted in wilderness areas, potentially altering the landscape and the experience of visitors.

What Minnesota asks to happen (policy actions)

• The memorial requests that the President and Congress reject the proposed act, so the Wilderness Act’s protections and the BWCAW’s wilderness character remain intact.
• It directs the Secretary of State to prepare copies of the memorial and send them to the President, the President and the Secretary of the United States Senate, the Speaker and the Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives, the chairs of the relevant congressional committees, and Minnesota’s federal legislators.

Relevant Terms - Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) - Wilderness Act - motor vehicles - motorboats - motorized equipment - aircraft - observation points - remote video surveillance systems - motion sensors - vehicle barriers - fences - roads - bridges - drainage - detection devices - illegal border crossings - President - Congress - Secretary of State - memorial (state resolution)