Colorado Forest Project News

Twenty-seven Colorado groups join chorus to cite dramatic rise in uranium mining claims during National Park Week

WASHINGTON, DC – As the nation celebrates the first annual National Park Week, 156 recreation and conservation groups in 24 states called on the U.S. Senate to take immediate action to protect Grand Canyon National Park from a dramatic increase in new mining claims by reforming the nation's 135-year-old mining law that governs the mining of uranium, gold and other "hardrock" metals on western public lands.

The coalition effort comes off the heels of another letter delivered this month by 28 elected officials from across the state calling on an overhaul of our nation’s mining laws.

As of January 2008, 1130 claims to mine “hardrock” metals have been staked within five miles of the boundaries of the Grand Canyon, according to an analysis of U.S. Bureau of Land Management data by the nonprofit Environmental Working Group (EWG).  In January 2003, only 10 claims were within this radius. Many of these new claims are for uranium. Nine other national parks in the West, including Yellowstone, Yosemite, Death Valley, and Black Canyon of the Gunnison are at new and growing risk as mining claims cluster around their boundaries, according to EWG.

Early this month, a federal court enjoined a British company, VANE Minerals, from beginning exploration for uranium just outside the Grand Canyon's rim.  

Metals mining, including uranium, gold and copper, is the nation's top source of toxic pollution, and mining pollution has contaminated 40 percent of the headwaters of western rivers, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

Environment Colorado, one of the signers of the letter who helped lead the effort for National Park Week, called for action by the U.S. Senate to reform the 1872 mining law.

“If national treasures such as the Grand Canyon are at risk, what's to save Colorado's treasures such as Red Lady outside Crested Butte,” said Matt Garrington, field director for Environment Colorado. “Our unspoiled mountains, rivers, and streams are simply too important to expose to the toxic pollution of the new mining rush. We need to protect our national treasures and mountain landscapes, not a corporation's bottom line."

Mining claims, fueled by rising metals prices, have skyrocketed more than 230% in the last four years. Uranium claims alone on public lands jumped from 120 in 2003 to 10,730 in 2007.  

“It's time the Senate took action. We need Senators Wayne Allard and Ken Salazar to set up to the plate and pass a mining reform this year,” said Garrington.

Last year, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bipartisan bill to modernize the 1872 mining law, which still gives mining priority over other uses on many western public lands. The U.S. Senate, led by Jeff Bingaman, Chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, is expected to produce its own reform proposal shortly.

The statement of principles and list of signers can be found here: www.environmentamerica.org/grand-canyon-coalition-letter and www.pewminingreform.org/pdf/grandcanyon_coalition_letter.pdf

Signers from Colorado include:

Audubon Colorado
B&H Sports
Base Mountain Quill Angler
Base Mountain Sports
Blue Quill Angler
Center for Native Ecosystems
Central Colorado Wilderness Coalition
Colorado Conservation Alliance
Colorado Environmental Coalition
Edge Ski, Paddle, & Pack
Environment Colorado
E-Town
Fine Print
Great Divide Ski, Bike, & Hike
Great Old Broads for Wilderness
Mo Henry’s Trout Shop
Mountain Angler
Mountain West Strategies
Oil & Gas Accountability Project
Pew Environment Group
Pete Kolbenschlag, Colorado Representative
Photography for Conservation
San Juan Citizens Alliance
San Luis Valley Ecosystem Project
Ski Base East
Thorne Ecological Institute
Wilderness Workshop