A ban for a temporary period has been extended by the Interior Department on the submitting of new claims for mining near Grand Canyon. The object is to give protection to 1 million acres and to allow more time to the federal government to scrutinize the effects on the economy and environment by mining.
The department has been mulling over the issue of banning new claims for mining covering 1 million acres near the part or to permit the mining industry to allow addition to claims numbering thousands that have already been staked in this region. In 2009 a temporary ban had been imposed. It is scheduled to expire next July but has now been stretched up to December this year.
Ken Salazar the Interior Secretary toured the Grand Canyon. Referring to the history of the region he advised patience mixed with humility and caution while pushing ahead with a controversial move. He said “Cautious development with strong oversight could help us answer critical questions about water quality and environmental impacts of uranium in the area. This science derived from experience could help others decide what actions are necessary to protect the Grand Canyon”.
The department prefers to withdraw mining on the total area for full two decades when in December the analysis will be completed, opined Salazar. It did not take long for the mining group together with Governor Jan Brewer and some other Republicans in the Congress to quickly blast the decision of Salazar as being detrimental to the economy of the state and nation’s goal of achieving economic independence.
The announcement was lauded by conservationists as vital for extending protection to the natural as well as the cultural assets of the region. Salazar received miniature cowboy-hats to Salazar – he being himself a rancher. Previously he was the chief of natural resources. He has been urging for a more lasting withdrawal. His opponents have sad that it was a threat to natural treasures of the country.
The ban for a temporary period was meant to put brakes on an anticipated new rush of mining operations. There are a minimum of 3,350 pending mining claims within the above mentioned area.
Last February the Interior Department submitted few alternatives – to remain inactive, to keep the ban pending for two decades or to partly withdraw some regions from the new bans. Thousands of comments rolled in from the public.
Julie Thompson, has been working on ForeclosureDataOnline.com studying the foreclosures market, helping buyers on the finer points of Simi Valley foreclosed homes for sale. Try to visit ForeclosureDataOnline.com and find all related information about foreclosed homes.