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 our 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 Maine has been working with our national federation, Environment America, to protect the canyon as part of our 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 within five miles of Grand Canyon National Park exploded from just 10 claims in January 2003, to 1,130 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 corporate land grab snowballed, threatening to permanently damage the Grand Canyon, Environment Maine and our 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.

It’s time for reform

Comprehensive mining reform is needed to protect the Grand Canyon and all of our 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 rights to mine the land for pennies on the dollar.

In December 2007, the House of Representatives passed an Environment Maine-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 petition signatures asking Congress to permanently protect the Grand Canyon.