Mining companies say the decision could cost the regional economy billions of dollars. Environmentalists say mining near the Grand Canyon would mar a unique natural treasure.
Teddy Roosevelt can rest easy. The Obama administration on Wednesday formally unveiled a plan to ban new uranium and other mining claims on 1 million acres of federal lands bordering the Grand Canyon for 20 years ? a move that follows in the footsteps of the 26th president's efforts in the early part of last century.
Skip to next paragraphWith the price of uranium soaring on international markets, thousands of new mining claims were posted in recent years on lands near the canyon ? some within site of public viewing areas. Now, all nascent claims will be blocked from development, although a handful that had already reached a required federal threshold for development may ultimately proceed.
The administration move was telegraphed in June by Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar, who at that time, announced an "emergency" six-month extension of a ban on mining development in the area. He also endorsed the most restrictive of several options then under consideration to "ensure that all public lands adjacent to the Grand Canyon National Park are protected from new hard-rock mining claims, all of which are in the watershed of the Grand Canyon."
Wednesday's announcement was unveiled in a press release without other fanfare by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).
?The Grand Canyon is an iconic place for all Americans and visitors from around the world,? said BLM Director Bob Abbey in a statement. ?Uranium remains an important part of our nation?s comprehensive energy resources, but it is appropriate to pause, identify what the predicted level of mining and its impacts on the Grand Canyon would be, and decide what level of risk is acceptable to take with this national treasure."
The "preferred alternative," he noted, would allow for "cautious, continued development with strong oversight that could help us fill critical gaps in our knowledge about water quality and environmental impacts of uranium mining in the area.?
There remain 11 uranium mining claims that, before the 2009 federal freeze, had already attained the he status of "valid and existing rights" and which could go forward, the BLM reported.
But several environmental groups would fight the validity of those claims in court, said Roger Clark, a spokesman for the Grand Canyon Trust. There is already one uranium mine ? the Arizona 1, owned by a Canadian company ? with ongoing operations.
take shelter take shelter dressage byu football byu football demi moore and ashton kutcher demi moore and ashton kutcher
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.