Protect Bears Ears and Grand Canyon from Uranium Quotas

August 22 2018

Bruce Gordon, EcoFlight

by Amber Reimondo, Energy Director

The U.S. Department of Commerce is considering — at the behest of two uranium-mining companies — asking President Trump to impose uranium quotas, effectively forcing the U.S. nuclear power industry to purchase more uranium mined from U.S. public lands. Quotas would increase the price of uranium and make mining it more profitable, while putting our environment and our communities at risk.

For decades, the global uranium market has been saturated, which has kept prices low. Now uranium mining companies are ignoring the facts and taking advantage of a protectionist administration to boost their bottom lines.

TAKE ACTION. Urge the Commerce Department not to recommend uranium quotas ›

There are hundreds of active mining claims on public lands in and around the original Bears Ears National Monument and around Grand Canyon National Park. If the uranium companies get these quotas and the price bump they say will accompany them, mining those claims could become a lot more attractive. The deadline to submit a public comment has been extended to September 25, 2018.

In your own words, please voice your opposition to uranium quotas. Some intel to share:

Uranium quotas won't increase national security. If the goal of quotas is to stabilize nuclear power, it would fail. The nuclear power industry itself estimates that a requirement to buy U.S. uranium would cost an extra $500-800 million per year, drive up the cost of electricity, and force reactors to close.
We already have enough uranium. Defense experts, including at the Department of Energy, say uranium supplies for defense needs are fulfilled at least through 2060. There’s no rush to mine additional uranium.
Mining uranium isn't worth the risk. The impact of the uranium mining industry on local economies will be marginal compared to the environmental risks, which could jeopardize key economic drivers like outdoor recreation and tourism. In Arizona, a recent poll shows that 73 percent of voters consider outdoor recreation to be more important to the state's economic future than mining.

Please urge the Department of Commerce not to recommend quotas on uranium by the September 25 deadline ›

Thank you for taking action to protect our public lands from this ploy by uranium companies to drive up prices and bolster their own bottom lines.

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Comments (17)

Rita moore says:

Sep 1, 2018

It seems better to store uranium in the ground until it is needed. Over development of resources doesn't help during the times when it is needed.

Stephanie Balducci says:

Sep 3, 2018

Please protect the wildlife there!

Kay says:

Sep 4, 2018

Stop the insanity, stay out of Bears Ears. We also need our endangered species protected. Not tossed to out to the Wolves On Wall Street, the Ill do anything for a buck.

Lynn petersen says:

Sep 4, 2018

Stop mining on public lands. Stop deminishing the public land boarders, stop the destruction for profit!!

Hyung Nam says:

Sep 4, 2018

These are treasures for the world, history and a tourism economy. Do not take risks by mining uranium or any resources from any where near these areas.

Earlene says:

Sep 5, 2018

Enough already, do something correct and leave our national parks alone and stop the insane quotas for uranium mining.

JL Angell says:

Sep 12, 2018

Such quotas could incentivize destructive uranium mining in locations harmful to public health and/or where purer environment is essential to local economies dependent on tourism.

Jo Harvey says:

Sep 12, 2018

Uranium quotas, and the mining needed to reach those, are an unnecessary risk upon the land, communities and people near the proposed locations (remember, the impact of mining is pretty far-reaching and a community doesnt need to be right on top of the mine to be impacted), and U.S. economics. We as a nation do not actively need uranium; we have enough in our defence coffers to last until roughly, 2060 giving us plenty of time to review our processes and find alternatives to mining our beautiful and nonreplaceable National Parks. Mining Bears Ears and the Grand Canyon are not forward thinking ideas that preserve the wonder of our breathtaking land for future generations. They are ideas that do not even serve our best interests now. I implore you, please protect our wild places and not the bottom line of mining companies.

Cathy says:

Sep 12, 2018

Please leave our beautiful land ( Grand Canyon) alone ! We need these public monuments for future generations!!! Find your uranium somewhere else

Steve Tyler says:

Sep 12, 2018

Please do not recommend quotas or allow mining for uranium near Grand Canyon

Jacqueline NORMAND says:

Sep 12, 2018

Laissez ce magnifique paysage tel qu'il est depuis des millénaires ! Il n'appartient qu'à lui même.

Kathy Babiak says:

Sep 12, 2018

Please do not recommend quotes for uranium. We do not need new supplies of it - we have plenty in storage. Bears Ears and the Grand Canyon are much more valuable to the American people and should not be mined.

Bruce Orinstein says:

Sep 12, 2018

Please protect our Park for the people to enjoy!

Elisa Rios says:

Sep 12, 2018

The risk to public lands and National Parks and Monuments from resuming or beginning uranium mining is not worth it. The nuclear power industry itself estimates that a requirement to buy U.S. uranium would cost an extra $500-800 million per year, drive up the cost of electricity, and force reactors to close. Uranium supplies for defense needs are fulfilled at least through 2060. In Arizona, a recent poll shows that 73 percent of voters consider outdoor recreation to be more important to the state's economic future than mining. Do not desecrate our public treasures for the profit of private corporations.

Kent Minault says:

Sep 12, 2018

Uranium quotas won't increase national security. If the goal of quotas is to stabilize nuclear power, it would fail. The nuclear power industry itself estimates that a requirement to buy U.S. uranium would cost an extra $500-800 million per year, drive up the cost of electricity, and force reactors to close. We already have enough uranium. Defense experts, including at the Department of Energy, say uranium supplies for defense needs are fulfilled at least through 2060. There’s no rush to mine additional uranium. Mining uranium isn't worth the risk. The impact of the uranium mining industry on local economies will be marginal compared to the environmental risks, which could jeopardize key economic drivers like outdoor recreation and tourism. In Arizona, a recent poll shows that 73 percent of voters consider outdoor recreation to be more important to the state's economic future than mining.

Sandy Whitley says:

Sep 12, 2018

I am writing to oppose instituting quotas for uranium produced in the US. There are plenty of global uranium companies who charge low prices. It is my understanding that the nuclear power industry estimates that a requirement to buy U.S. uranium would cost an extra $500-800 million per year and drive up the cost of electricity. This would make nuclear energy more expensive, just like coal is now expensive compared to renewables and natural gas. There is already enough uranium supply for defense needs through at least 2060, 40++ years from now. There is no compelling reason to mine for uranium in the US which could cause untold damage to local economies, especially those near national parks, like Grand Canyon and Bear Ears National Monument. The environmental risks associated with uranium mining could jeopardize key economic drivers (outdoor recreation and tourism) in my state, Arizona. For these reasons, please abandon your plans to institute quotas for uranium mined in the US.

James Herther says:

Sep 13, 2018

Please do not allow uranium mining near the Grand Canyon. This is my favorite place on Earth. Millions of people visit it every year. Thing about the future and what our priorities should be.

All fields required unless otherwise noted.

TAKE ACTION. Urge the Commerce Department not to recommend uranium quotas ›

Please urge the Department of Commerce not to recommend quotas on uranium by the September 25 deadline ›

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