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Uranium Mining Ban Near Grand Canyon Advances
Photo by Laurel Morales
Interior Secretary Ken Salazar talks about plan to extend moratorium on uranium mining on land surrounding Grand Canyon National Park
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. -- The Obama Administration released this week its plan to ban new uranium mining on land surrounding Grand Canyon National Park for 20 years.
When the price of uranium shot up a few years ago, mining companies made thousands of new claims on lands next to the park. So in 2009, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar issued a temporary ban on new claims to study the impact of mining. This week’s decision extends that moratorium on new mining for two more decades.
But Grand Canyon Trust spokesman Roger Clark said several existing claims won’t be affected by the ban.
"There’s still a lot of work to do," Clark said. "But, I have to say, this is an important, very important, landmark decision."
Several moves in Congress aim to nullify that decision.
Legislation unveiled by Republicans in the House and Senate last month would prevent Salazar from moving forward. Senator John McCain said banning uranium mining near the park would take much needed jobs away from the region.
The proposed rule does not take effect for another month. Even after that, Congress has 90 days in which it can act to reverse the measure.
