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Protect the Greater Grand Canyon From Toxic Uranium Mining
Interior Secretary Ken Salazar is proposing to ban new mining claims on nearly one million acres of federal land surrounding the Grand Canyon to protect the Grand Canyon watershed from the many adverse impacts of mining. This is great news, but the Bureau of Land Management is still considering the proposal. Please tell the BLM that you support the proposed mineral withdrawal as a necessary step towards permanently preserving this scenic and ecologically significant landscape! Edit and send the letter below:
Dear [ Decision Maker ] , I strongly support the proposal to withdraw the public land from mining activities. The Grand Canyon watershed is ecologically significant and provides important water resources to the western states. The threats posed by uranium mining are unjustifiable in such an important area. Congress is considering pieces of legislation this year that could reform the 1872 Mining Law, change uranium mining on public lands to a leasing mechanism, and permanently withdraw the lands surrounding Grand Canyon National Park from mining. Until Congress decides how to best permanently protect the Grand Canyon watershed from uranium mining, BLM should withdraw these lands from new mining claims. Mining companies have been allowed to run roughshod over our public lands, without proper environmental protections and without giving the American people a fair return for use of our lands. I urge BLM to protect our significant landscapes, such as the Greater Grand Canyon, from the adverse effects of mining by withdrawing the surrounding lands from mineral exploration and mining. Thank you for the opportunity to comment.
Sincerely, |
Campaign Launched: |
| Background Information |
Uranium mining poses grave environmental hazards. It imperils the health of humans and wildlife by potentially contaminating water supplies with toxic tailings. Four tribes in the Grand Canyon region - the Hopi, Navajo, Hualapai, and Havasupai - have banned uranium mining on their lands due to the high risk of adverse impacts on their health, water, and land, and past problems with contamination that still haven't been rectified.
Additionally, uranium mining on public lands often fails to serve the public interest because it is currently administered under the 1872 Mining Law. Under this archaic statute, mining companies pay no royalties and public lands that are mined are subject to insufficient environmental protections.
Reform of the 1872 Mining Law is long overdue. Rep. Nick Rahall (D-WV) and Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) have introduced legislation in the House and Senate to bring the law into the 21st century. This fall, the House may consider legislation that would change uranium mining on public lands to a leasing program, which would ensure a fair market value for use of the lands and provide funding for reclamation efforts, among other things. Additionally, Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ) has reintroduced legislation to permanently withdraw the lands surrounding Grand Canyon National Park from mining.
But until Congress can act, we need interim protection for the Grand Canyon.
Thanks to Secretary Salazar's proposal, lands harboring potential uranium deposits around the Grand Canyon will be "segregated" - that is, placed off-limits to additional mining claims - for a period of two years while the Bureau of Land Management completes an environmental impact statement on a proposed longer term mining withdrawal of the lands. If approved, the withdrawal can last for up to 20 years.
Public participation will be an important component of the BLM's decision-making process.
Click the back button to send your letter. Or send your own letter to the address below before Oct. 26.
Send comments to:
Grand Canyon Mining Withdrawal Project
Attn: Scott Florence, District Manager
BLM Arizona Strip District Office
345 East Riverside Drive
St. George, UT 84790-6714
Email: azasminerals@blm.gov
Thanks for supporting the Grand Canyon! For those of you nearby, we hope you'll consider taking an extra step of attending a public meeting to support Secretary Salazar's proposal. Public participation is encouraged.
Public Meeting Schedule
Flagstaff, Arizona on October 15
6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
At the High Country Conference Center, 201 West Butler Avenue
