Rep. Grijalva and The Grand Canyon

Protecting Arizona’s Future: Uranium Mining in the Grand Canyon

Background

Communities in Northern Arizona have experienced serious human health and environmental impacts from the mining, processing and transportation of uranium that occurred up until the late 1980s. Uranium is a Class A human carcinogen, linked to lung and bone cancer, kidney disease, birth defects, liver failure and autoimmune diseases, among others. The legacy of disease and death is especially acute among the Native peoples of the Northern Arizona region, some of whom live in the Grand Canyon itself.

Management of the federal land in or near Grand Canyon National Park directly impacts sensitive habitats, listed and endangered species, groundwater, air quality, archaeological resources, recreational opportunities, downstream water users and the health and safety of visitors and residents near the Park.

The Grand Canyon is one of the world’s greatest natural wonders and a national icon, drawing five million U.S. and international visitors each year who marvel at its beautiful topography, hike its trails, and run its outstanding river rapids. One of the crown jewels of our National Park System, the Grand Canyon has been inspiring humans since pre-historic times and is the traditional origin or birthplace of several Native Nations.

Protecting the Grand Canyon is necessary to reduce the grave threat uranium poses to human health. The proximity of mining claims to the Colorado River, which supplies drinking water for some 30 million people, and the danger to the irreplaceable natural wonder of the Grand Canyon call for urgent action by Congress to protect the area.

Timeline

2000-2011 – Responding to a dramatic increase in the price of uranium mining claims, mining companies rushed to stake their claim on public land near the Grand Canyon. Uranium mining claims in the area increased from 10 in 2003 to 3,500 in 2011.

March 11, 2008 – Citing public health and environmental concerns, Rep. Grijalva first introduces the Grand Canyon Watershed Protection Act, a bill that permanently withdraws approximately one million acres of public land adjacent to Grand Canyon National Park from future uranium mining claims.

March 28, 2008 – Led by Chairman Grijalva, the House Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands holds a field hearing on the implications of uranium mining near the Grand Canyon in Flagstaff, Arizona. Testimony comes from Native Nations, local government officials, agency officials, and experts on uranium mining and its effects on human health.

June 5, 2008 – The Subcommittee holds another hearing on the same issue in Washington, D.C.

June 25, 2008 – The full House Committee on Natural Resources passes a resolution to require the Secretary of the Interior immediately to protect the public lands in question under a provision of the Federal Land Policy and Management giving the Committee the authority to command a withdrawal from mining claims in the case of emergencies. The Secretary at the time, Dirk Kempthorne, who was appointed by President George W. Bush, did not withdraw the lands and subsequently promulgated a new administrative rule rescinding his agency’s duty to withdraw lands when notified by the Committee to do so.

Throughout 2008 –The Bureau of Land Management continues to allow exploratory drilling on lands under its jurisdiction. The Forest Service moves forward with an Environmental Impact Statement for drilling on its lands.
January 22, 2009 – Rep. Grijalva reintroduces the Grand Canyon Watershed Protection Act.

February 4, 2009 – Rep. Grijalva writes newly appointed Interior Secretary Ken Salazar to request that the one million acres adjacent to the Grand Canyon are withdrawn from new mining claims for 3 years to prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement.

July 20, 2009 – President Obama’s Interior Secretary, Ken Salazar, initiates a temporary moratorium on new uranium mining claims to allow time for the preparation of a study to evaluate the environmental impacts of increased mining.

May 4, 2011 – Rep. Grijalva sends a letter strongly urging protection of the Grand Canyon to Interior Secretary Salazar.

June 20, 2011 – Secretary Salazar announces a 20-year moratorium on new uranium mining claims as the Department’s preferred alternative in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement.

March 1, 2011 – Rep. Grijalva reintroduces the Grand Canyon Watershed Protection Act.

August 2011 – At the request of GOP representatives from Arizona, the Republican-controlled House appropriations bill for interior and environment contains a section that would block Secretary Salazar’s authority to protect the Grand Canyon.

October 12, 2011 – Reps. Trent Franks, Paul Gosar, Ben Quayle and David Schweikert introduce the Northern Arizona Mining Continuity Act, which would block the Secretary’s authority to make informed land management decisions in the area under review.

January 9, 2012 – Secretary Salazar protects the Grand Canyon by announcing a 20-year ban on new uranium mining claims.