Mining threatens Grand canyon
One of the world’s great natural wonders, the Grand Canyon in Arizona, USA, is facing increasing pressure from mining, according to a coalition of environmental groups.
As Geographical went to press, the groups, including the Center for Biological Diversity, Sierra Club and Grand Canyon Trust, filed a law suit against the Forest Service claiming that by allowing uranium drilling at 39 sites close to the Grand Canyon National Park it had violated the National Environmental Policy Act, the Administrative Procedures Act and the Appeals Reform Act. The groups also claim that the service made the decision following the most basic assessment of the impact such activities could potentially have on the region.
The Forest Service has claimed that it granted the approvals because the canyon could be ‘categorically excluded’ from such a review because exploration would last less than a year and might not lead to mining activity. Furthermore, it has claimed it was powerless to reject the proposals under the 1872 Mining Law.
But while pressure from mining companies mounts, an unrelated initiative is seeking to replenish natural habitats in the canyon that were lost following the construction of a dam on the Colorado River 45 years ago. For three days in March, the amount of water released by the Glen Canyon Dam was quadrupled to 1.2 million litres per second, recreating natural seasonal high river flows that occurred before the arrival of the dam.
June 2008
As Geographical went to press, the groups, including the Center for Biological Diversity, Sierra Club and Grand Canyon Trust, filed a law suit against the Forest Service claiming that by allowing uranium drilling at 39 sites close to the Grand Canyon National Park it had violated the National Environmental Policy Act, the Administrative Procedures Act and the Appeals Reform Act. The groups also claim that the service made the decision following the most basic assessment of the impact such activities could potentially have on the region.
The Forest Service has claimed that it granted the approvals because the canyon could be ‘categorically excluded’ from such a review because exploration would last less than a year and might not lead to mining activity. Furthermore, it has claimed it was powerless to reject the proposals under the 1872 Mining Law.
But while pressure from mining companies mounts, an unrelated initiative is seeking to replenish natural habitats in the canyon that were lost following the construction of a dam on the Colorado River 45 years ago. For three days in March, the amount of water released by the Glen Canyon Dam was quadrupled to 1.2 million litres per second, recreating natural seasonal high river flows that occurred before the arrival of the dam.
June 2008
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