Democrats aim to protect Grand Canyon from 'imminent' drilling threat
https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/467833-democrats-aim-to-protect-grand-canyon-from-imminent-drilling-threat
Democrats aim to protect Grand Canyon from 'imminent' drilling threat
By Miranda Green and Rebecca Beitsch - 10/29/19 06:00 AM EDT
Democrats are preparing to counter any White House efforts to allow mining near the Grand Canyon, with Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D-Ariz.) leading the charge to pass legislation aimed at warding off what he called an imminent threat to the countrys most iconic national park.
House passage of Grijalva's bill, slated for a Wednesday floor vote, would ban mining on all federal land in Arizona, essentially creating a safety zone around the Grand Canyon. The Natural Resources Committee chairman said the measure also reflects the reality of climate change.
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The legislation, Grijalva said, is designed to guard against forthcoming recommendations from a White House Uranium Mining Group, consisting largely of industry leaders. As early as next month, the group could recommend mining uranium near the Grand Canyon.
Grijalva said he previously thought a two-decade moratorium on mining near the national park, implemented in 2012, would be enough to ward off efforts to extract uranium and other minerals in nearby federal land. But now he isnt taking any risks.
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