The Canyon Stays Grand Under The Plan

Today US Interior Secretary Ken Salazar announced a plan to institute a 20-year ban on uranium mining on the land around the Grand Canyon in Arizona.  Predictably, Republicans and mining and energy lobbyists are furious.

Salazar, who twice imposed temporary bans on new uranium claims, said last year that uranium remains an important part of a comprehensive energy strategy. But he said the Grand Canyon is a national treasure that must be protected.

The Grand Canyon attracts more than 4 million visitors a year and generates an estimated $3.5 billion in economic activity, Salazar said. Millions of Americans living in cities such as Phoenix and Los Angeles rely on the Colorado River for clean drinking water.

"Like our ancestors, we do not know how future Americans will enjoy, experience and benefit from this place," Salazar said at a speech in June outlining plans to limit new mining claims near the site. "And that's one of the many reasons why wisdom, caution and science should guide our protection of the Grand Canyon."

It's unknown how long that ban will effectively last, considering the first millisecond an energy company-friendly Republican gets back into the White House, the Grand Canyon will have more than a few extra holes blasted in it.

Republican members of Arizona's congressional delegation have lambasted temporary bans imposed by Salazar in 2009 and again last year. They say a permanent ban on the filing of new mining claims would eliminate hundreds of jobs and unravel decades of responsible resource development. Rep. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., and other GOP lawmakers are backing legislation to prevent Salazar from moving forward with the 20-year ban.

Good luck getting that past this President.  Of course, Jeff Flake is waiting for one of the lovely Republican candidates we have now to end up in the Oval Office.  Does anyone think Mitt Romney would block uranium mining in America's most famous natural monument?  Hell, the rest of the Clown Car Kids would probably get rid of the Department of the Interior altogether.

How many jobs would be lost if the Colorado River was contaminated by uranium mining runoff?  How many lives?  Do you think any of the Republicans running for president care about the environment?

Thought so.