Lawmakers want Grand Canyon U mining withdrawl

Protect the Grand Canyon and Colorado River.

FLAGSTAFF AZ -- I and many other Arizona legislators sent this comment letter to BLM and other federal officials this week about the uranium mining controversy near the Grand Canyon. Read it here.

To: Jim Kenna, BLM AZ State Director, Phoenix; Scott Florence, BLM AZ Strip District Manager, St. George UT

We are writing to support the withdrawal of approximately one million acres of public lands near the Grand Canyon from mining activities, including both Bureau of Land Management lands and national forests.

The Grand Canyon National Park is one of America’s most precious and amazing parks. We want to ensure that this breathtaking park is preserved in pristine condition and are concerned that uranium mining in the area may significantly degrade the park’s natural state. There could be potential contamination of water in the Grand Canyon region, including Grand Canyon seeps, springs and the Colorado River, which supplies water to tens of millions of people throughout the southwest. We would appreciate a thorough analysis of impacts on all waters in the region when you evaluate this proposed withdrawal in an Environmental Impact Statement.

An analysis of potential short-term, long-term and cumulative environmental impacts of uranium exploration and mining on groundwater and the connections to surface water in and around the Grand Canyon could provide not only the environmental community, but also the Native American communities, answers to many of their concerns. This would be especially important to the various hydrologists and hydrogeologists who have expressed concerns about uranium mining and its potential impact on area water resources.

Thank you for carefully considering our comments as you move forward with developing the Environmental Impact Statement. We strongly support protecting these lands from mining activities.

Sincerely,

Arizona State Representative Daniel Patterson, District 29; Arizona State Representative Tom Chabin, District 2; Arizona State Representative Christopher Clark Deschene, District 2; Arizona State Representative Rae Waters, District 20; Arizona State Representative Patricia Fleming, District 25; Arizona State Representative Nancy Young Wright, District 26; Arizona State Representative Phil Lopes, District 27; Arizona State Representative Steve Farley, District 28; Arizona State Senator Albert Hale, District 2; Arizona State Senator Meg Burton Cahill, District 17