Grand Canyon National Park wins mining reprieve
In June, 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 Wisconsin Environment’s campaign to protect the Grand Canyon from toxic mining pollution.
From its jagged red cliffs to the winding Colorado River, the Grand Canyon stands as one of America’s most prized natural treasures. Unfortunately, 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—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.
Mining 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, Wisconsin Environment and our allies looked for a way to put on the brakes. We found it in a little-known provision that allowed the House of Representatives’ 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 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.
Overcoming mining industry influence
In December 2007, the House passed a Wisconsin Environment-supported mining 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, Wisconsin Environment—along with our allies in Environment America, our national federation—ramped up our field campaign. Together, we helped to build a coalition of more than 160 groups, generating media in 13 states, and collecting thousands of petition signatures asking Congress to permanently protect the Grand Canyon and all of our national parks.
