Christmas came early for Grand Canyon uranium mines. The secret Santas at the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality gift wrapped air pollution permits for 3 mines.
We are surprised that a federal agency charged with caring for our public lands and waters summarily dismissed a reasonable request to safeguard the Grand Canyon region from toxic and radioactive contamination. But we're not giving up.
Good news! We now have a shot at permanently banning new uranium mines on public lands surrounding Grand Canyon National Park. Three things you should know.
County officials recently wrote in an op-ed that "the uranium mining industry has gone out of its way to protect the environment." But the uranium industry's track record tells a different story.
Over 1 million gallons of toxic mine waste spilled into the Animas River, turning it an eerie orange. This should make us think twice about mining uranium near the Grand Canyon.