ICYMI: New Rules Could Clear Way for Increasing Uranium Mining Around Grand Canyon

Earlier this week the U.S. Forest Service announced it would be proposing changes to rules that govern how the agency handles oil and gas leasing by the Bureau of Land Management in National Forests. Also announced were changes to rules governing hardrock mineral locations. Unsurprisingly, given the Trump administration’s dirty-fuels first agenda, these rule changes are designed to “reduce the burden on industry” and speed leasing on public lands.

Less obvious, but equally important, are provisions tucked into the proposed rule changes that would use the “critical minerals” list recently announced by Interior Secretary Zinke to “revise [the] permitting processes to expedite exploration for, and production of, critical minerals (Sec. 3(d))”-- including uranium.

The proposed rule changes come as industry is pushing to reverse a mineral withdrawal that could open the door for thousands of uranium mining claims on lands surrounding the Grand Canyon. The lands and people of Bears Ears National Monument in neighboring Utah face similar threats as the uranium lobby attempts to gain a foothold within Bears Ears National Monument after having advocated for the monument’s reduction.

“The risks of uranium mining are real, proven, and long lasting. Already people, particularly on the Navajo Nation, are living with radioactive waste, undrinkable water, and all the negative health effects that contamination brings. Uranium pollution is permanent. The health of our communities, our waterways, and our lands is too important to let these changes slide through unnoticed,” said Sandy Bahr, Grand Canyon Chapter Director.