9 Republicans supported the ban, but not Lesko, Schweikert, Gosar, Biggs
By Robin Bravender | Arizona Mirror
The U.S. House approved legislation Wednesday to permanently ban uranium and other hardrock mining near the Grand Canyon.
The bill from Arizona Rep. Raúl Grijalva, chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, passed by a vote of 236-185.
The legislation would permanently withdraw about 1 million acres of public lands north and south of Grand Canyon National Park from mineral extraction. The Obama administration announced a 20-year moratorium on new mining claims in those areas, but backers of the bill warn that the Trump administration could reverse course without a permanent ban in place.
“This House needs to act on this proposal because these critical protections are under threat from the Trump administration,” Grijalva said Wednesday.
The White House threatened to veto the bill if it makes it to the president’s desk, saying the administration “opposes such a large, permanent withdrawal, which would prohibit environmentally responsible development” of uranium and other mineral resources.
