FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 25, 2008
Contact: Kristina Johnson
415.977.5619
Congress Uses Emergency Authority to Challenge Grand Canyon Uranium Mining
Radioactive Pollution Threatens Drinking Water in Major Southwest Cities
Washington, D.C. - In an emergency effort to keep uranium mining from beginning next to Grand Canyon National Park, today the House Natural
Resources Committee invoked a rarely-used authority ordering the Bush administration to immediately stop mining claims in the Grand
Canyon. The measure was urged by Rep. Raul Grijlava (D-AZ), who chairs the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forest and Public Lands.
The emergency mineral withdrawal would protect the watersheds flowing into the Colorado River from radioactive uranium mine pollution, a
threat to downstream drinking water for Las Vegas, Phoenix, Tucson, Los Angeles and San Diego.
This emergency withdrawal authority has only been used four times in history, the last time in 1983. In every instance it was used by Rep.
Morris Udall, then-Chairman of the House Interior Committee, who used it to challenge former Interior Secretary James Watt.
In March 6 of this year Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano asked Interior Secretary Kempthorne to withdraw the Grand Canyon area from
mining, but the administration refused to do so without a Congressional request. Several Native American tribes, including the nation's largest, the Navajo Nation, have also called for a halt to
uranium mining. So has Coconino County, where most of the mines would be located.
Statement of Sierra Club Southwest Regional Director Rob Smith
Congress has been forced to take emergency measures to stop the Bush administration from jeopardizing this iconic national park with
radioactive uranium pollution.
Thousands of mining claims have been staked on public land surrounding the Grand Canyon in the last few years with minimal environmental
review.
Nearby communities have already suffered disease and death from past uranium mine pollution. If the Bush administration fails to act, it
will jeopardize drinking water for millions of people in Phoenix, Las Vegas and southern California.
Congress needs to protect the Grand Canyon and Colorado River because the Bush Administration won't.