"If a handful of Republican lawmakers get their way, the Grand Canyon area will be open for business to international uranium mining interests. In this or any other economy, it's the last thing we need.

There are about 1.1 million acres of public forest land surrounding the Canyon currently subject to a moratorium on new mining claims set by Interior Secretary Ken Salazar. Salazar said in June that he would recommend withdrawing the land from new claims for 20 years by the end of 2011. This recommendation, perfectly in line with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act, comes after two years of study by Interior Department land-conservation and natural-resource experts. It's been endorsed at public hearings around the region.

There is little public or scientific support for opening the area to further mining. The withdrawal is supported by Coconino County, which includes the Canyon; local tribes; the nearby city of Flagstaff and other local communities; the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (think Los Angeles) and the Southern Nevada Water Authority (think Las Vegas); the tourism industry that relies on unspoiled natural views; and just about every other American you can think of."

Get the Story:
Grijalva: Don't believe GOP's mining claims (The Arizona Republic 10/31)

Related Stories:
Editorial: Protect Grand Canyon from threats of uranium mining (6/30)