The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a bill that would permanently ban new mining near the Grand Canyon. The ban would affect over a million acres.
A temporary moratorium on new mining is currently in place, but Democrats in the House are worried about a new White House working group. The group’s goal is to boost domestic fuel sources for nuclear energy and weapons.
An increase in domestic fuel sources, uranium mining companies say, would improve U.S national security.
Neighboring Native American tribes, along with environmental and conservation groups, argue uranium mining threatens land and water near the Canyon.
Mining that’s already permitted could continue.
All five of Arizona’s House Democrats voted for the measure, H.R. 1373. All four Republican representatives voted against it.
It moves to the Senate, where it currently has no sponsor.
To talk more about the bill, The Show spoke with Deb Krol, environmental reporter for The Arizona Republic.
