Scoping Report Released on Proposed Mining Claims Withdrawal Near Grand Canyon National Park
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St. George, UT — The Bureau of Land Management has released a Scoping Report for the proposed withdrawal of nearly 1 million acres of federal lands near the Grand Canyon from new uranium mining claims. The purpose of scoping is to provide an opportunity for members of the public to learn about the proposed action and to provide comments on issues and concerns.
A total of 83,525 submissions were received containing 8,600 distinct comments. The information gathered by the BLM through the scoping process will be used in developing the Environmental Impact Statement.
Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced on July 21, 2009, a decision to segregate nearly 1 million acres of federal lands in the Arizona Strip for two years while the Department evaluates whether to withdraw these lands from new mining claims for an additional 20 years. The lands under review are managed by the Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service and are within portions of the Grand Canyon watershed. The acreage contains significant environmental and cultural resources as well as substantial uranium deposits.
Arizona Governor Jan Brewer called on Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar last fall to halt efforts to impose a 20 year withdrawal of nearly 1 million acres of federal lands in northern Arizona from hard rock mineral exploration and mining. The Governor’s letter in November 2009 noted that federal and state laws heavily regulate mining in Arizona and the proposed restrictions are unnecessary and “will adversely impact the State of Arizona.”
Source: KCSG TV
For details on the scoping report, CLICK HERE
