Uranium mining near the Grand Canyon? It may seem hard to believe, but up until recently, the government has allowed such dangerous mining to be conducted in the sensitive Grand Canyon ecosystem, threatening the Colorado River and Grand Canyon itself with contamination. Fortunately an end may be in sight. The Bureau of Land Management is currently considering banning new mining claims under the antiquated 1872 Mining Law in the greater Grand Canyon ecosystem. But if and how much land they protect is uncertain. Read more

Plains west of Ute Mountain, New Mexico. Photo by New Mexico Wilderness Alliance.

This year, Congress went home without passing critical legislation to protect America’s wild places - including 21 wilderness and wildland designation bills, full funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund and comprehensive climate change legislation. Read more

Kurt Fristrup and Karen Trevino. Photo by Damon Joyce.

This article first appeared in Wilderness Magazine. To read more great articles like this one, become a member today. It is getting louder all the time. It used to be easier to escape the din, and national parks and our other public lands were among the spots you could find peace and quiet. Most of these places remain the best prospects for basking in natural sounds, but the decibel level is on the rise. Read more