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Media Advisory, October 18, 2011

Contact: Taylor McKinnon, (928) 310-6713

Citizens Protest Pro-Uranium Mining Legislation for Grand Canyon's Watershed

What: Northern Arizona residents will gather at Rep. Paul Gosar’s office in Flagstaff to protest legislation introduced last week by him, John McCain and other GOP members that would block the Obama administration from enacting a 20-year ban on new uranium mining on public lands surrounding Grand Canyon National Park. 

When: Noon to 1 p.m., Wednesday Oct. 19

Where: 1515 E. Cedar Ave., Flagstaff, at the southeastern corner of Cedar Ave. and N. West St. (map direction here: http://g.co/maps/hybch).

Background: The Obama administration has proposed a 20-year ban on new mining claims and development of existing claims lacking valid rights across 1 million acres of public lands surrounding Grand Canyon National Park. A final decision implementing that ban is expected in December; Gosar’s legislation would prohibit the ban by severing the administration’s authority to protect public land under the Federal Land Policy and Management Act.

Thousands of new mining claims have been filed in the area in recent years, and new uranium mining would industrialize traditional American Indian lands and wildlands bordering the park, threaten to further contaminate aquifers feeding Grand Canyon’s seeps and springs, and damage wildlife habitat. 

President Obama’s proposed protections enjoy broad support from Arizona citizens, local governments, tribal governments, businesses, independent hydrologists and geologists and hunting and conservation groups.  


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