Grand Canyon National Park wins mining reprieve
On June 25, in a move initiated by Rep. Raul Grijalva (Ariz)., the
House Natural Resources Committee ordered the Bush administration to
halt new mining activity on 1 million acres surrounding Grand Canyon
National Park—a victory for Environment America’s campaign to protect
the Grand Canyon from toxic mining. From its jagged red cliffs to the
winding Colorado River, the Grand Canyon stands as one of America’s
most prized natural treasures. Environment America has been working to
protect the canyon as part of its work to protect the country’s
national parks and forests.
The Grand Canyon is facing a growing threat from mining pollution. As
the price of gold and uranium has climbed, mining companies have
dramatically expanded their plans to drill near the canyon.
Hardrock mining, the type of mining used to gather gold and uranium,
uses highly toxic chemicals such as cyanide, which pollutes the ground
and water surrounding a mine. Mining within five miles of the national
park would destroy the scenic views, water quality and priceless
wildlife habitat that hundreds of thousands of park visitors enjoy
every year.
Claims very close to Grand Canyon National Park exploded from just 10
in January 2003 to 1,130 claims in 2008, according to Bureau of Land
Management records. Several companies, such as Vane Minerals, had
planned to move forward with mining for uranium just three miles from
the border of the park.
Eleventh hour protection
As the special interests’ land grab snowballed, threatening to
permanently damage the Grand Canyon, Environment America and its allies
looked for a way to put on the brakes. We found it in a little-known
provision that allowed the House Committee on Natural Resources, in an
emergency situation, to compel the Secretary of the Interior to stop
new mining claims in a specific area for up to three years.
Unfortunately, the emergency resolution is only a temporary fix.
Comprehensive mining reform is needed to protect the Grand Canyon and
other national parks. Currently, the Mining Law of 1872 governs all
hardrock mining on public lands. The 136-year-old law requires no
environmental reviews, views mining as the single best use of public
lands, and gives mining companies the right to mine the land for
pennies on the dollar.
In December 2007, the House of Representatives passed an Environment
America-backed bill that would protect lands near national parks from
mining waste. But it has proved tougher going in the Senate, where the
mining industry holds enormous clout with key legislators. To overcome
mining industry influence, Environment America ramped up its field
campaign—helping to build a coalition of more than 160 groups, generate
media in 13 states, and collect thousands of petitions asking Congress
to permanently protect the Grand Canyon.
State progress
This spring, Environment America affiliates won protections in state
capitals for wild areas nationwide. For example, Environment Washington
realized a victory when President Bush signed Washington State’s first
wilderness bill in two decades. Environment Texas protected the
Christmas Mountains from development.
