S.D. Congressman Dusty Johnson’s track record proves he is no friend of America’s endangered wildlife areas

South Dakota’s lone Congressman, Dusty Johnson, just voted for a resolution that narrowly passed the House of Representatives, seeking to pave the way for mining of copper, nickel and precious metals in the headwaters of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area in northern Minnesota.

This is a serious assault on one of America’s favorite wilderness areas, which attracts an estimated 250,000 visitors annually. We must hope that the Senate will not follow suit and that the Boundary Waters will continue to be protected. The specific threat comes from Twin Metals Minnesota, which is part of a Chilean mining company named Antofagasta. Twin Metals hopes to develop a huge underground copper mine on the shores of Birch Lake, outside Ely, just a long day’s drive from eastern South Dakota. 

Jordan Schreiber, who is the director of government relations for the Wilderness Society, immediately decried the House vote.

“Americans revere the Boundary Waters Canoe Area wilderness and the freedom it provides us to paddle and explore,” Schreiber said. “Congress just tossed aside years of scientific study and local input about how to conserve the headwaters of this wilderness for future generations …”

Unfortunately, in the Trump regime, protecting special places for future generations does not have a high priority. From the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in northern Alaska, which is threatened with massive oil development, to the Everglades in southern Florida, which may be irrevocably polluted by the “Alligator Alcatraz” prison camp, our public lands are under unprecedented attack.

None of this concerns Johnson, who hopes to become South Dakota’s next governor. South Dakota has a state park system that is the envy of many wealthier, more populated states. Custer State Park is the crown jewel of that system, and we all remember Kristi Noem’s unsuccessful effort to defile the magnificent wildlife loop with an RV campground. It is likely that Dusty would be as poor a steward of our special places as Kristi was.

Dusty will attempt to justify his vote against the Boundary Waters by pointing out that Rep. Pete Stauber, who represents much of northern Minnesota, is supportive of the Twin Metals mine, and by arguing that America needs to lessen its dependence on China for rare earth metals.

Of course, there are other Minnesota politicians, including Sen. Tina Smith and Rep. Betty McCollum, who have worked hard to protect the Boundary Waters from the environmental threats posed by either open pit or underground mining.  If you check the League of Conservation Voters scorecard, you will find that Dusty Johnson votes against protecting the environment at least 90% of the time.

It’s reasonable to expect that he would be a disastrous steward of our public lands, and our land and water resources, if he manages to win the governorship. When unspoiled wilderness areas are destroyed by corporate interests, the damage cannot be repaired. 

Jay Davis of Rapid City is a retired lawyer and regular contributor to The South Dakota Standard.

Photo: Seagull Lake in the Boundary Waters Wilderness Area, public domain, wikimedia commons

The South Dakota Standard is offered freely and is supported by our readers. We have no political or commercial sponsorship. If you'd like to help us continue our mission to advance independent political and social commentary, you can do so by clicking on the "Donate" button that's on the sidebar to your right.

Follow us and comment on X and Bluesky