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Grand Canyon Uranium Mining: Help us protect 1 million acres

March 21, 2011 By Phil Hanceford

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

Protected roadless forests celebrate anniversary, but threats loom

January 11, 2011 By Mike Anderson, J.D.

Rogue-Winema National Forest Brown Mountain Roadless Area. Courtesy USFS.

A decade after it was first adopted by the U.S. Forest Service, the Roadless Area Conservation Rule has proven to be remarkably successful in protecting the 58.5 million acres of national forest roadless areas from road building and logging. Only about 75 miles of road building has occurred in the roadless areas — far less than the Forest Service had predicted a decade ago — and just a miniscule fraction of the unroaded forests has been logged, mostly in Alaska’s Tongass National Forest. Read more

Bush’s Final Days: The last-minute environmental roll-backs you should know about

December 19, 2008 By Drew Bush

Grand Canyon National Park at risk to Uranium mining, Arizona.

In November, we told you about sweeping environmental roll-backs the Bush administration is rushing through in its final months in office. Since then, and just as expected, the news has not been good. In the short weeks since the presidential election, the administration has finalized numerous land management plans, regulations and policy changes that could severely damage our wild lands for decades to come. Read more

Bush’s Last Assault: Debate over Grand Canyon mining sparks an ugly presidential moment (Part 4 of 6)

November 19, 2008 By Drew Bush

Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona (shot from the Bright Angel Point at the North Rim). Courtesy StefanB.

The Grand Canyon overwhelms our senses through its immense size, stratified and eye-catching rock layers, and more than 227 river miles. Most of us have stories to tell about visiting this icon of America. Mine began at the Canyon’s edge in Arizona while camping in the Kaibab National Forest in November. We were treated to a 3 a.m. Leonid meteor storm that only arrives once a century. Read more