The Obama administration has officially banned any new uranium
mines in the land adjacent to the Grand Canyon for the next 20
years. During the Bush presidency, mining companies filed
thousands of new land claims in northern Arizona near the
national park. In 2009, Secretary Salazar ordered a temporary
ban on any new claims, but now those lands are safe for at least
20 years. The ban protects one million acres of land surrounding
the Grand Canyon from new mining claims, but the 3,200 existing
mines will not be affected and 11 new mines already under
construction will be allowed to continue to develop. Although
this ban seems like a no-brainer, there was a decent amount of
opposition since the price for uranium is high and the area is
rich in uranium deposits. This ban doesn't just protect the
beauty of the place, but more importantly the health of the
ecosystems and millions of people who live within the Colorado
River Basin. At least one creek in the park has been found to be
contaminated by uranium and high