Publication Name

Daily Mail

Author(s)

Mark Duell

The Obama administration is moving forward with a controversial plan to ban new uranium mining claims on 1 million acres near the Grand Canyon.

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar is today expected to finalise a 20-year ban on new mining claims on public land surrounding the canyon in Arizona.

The White House believes uranium is still an important part of energy strategy but the Grand Canyon is a national treasure to be protected.

...

Environmental groups say the Colorado River, which runs through the Grand Canyon, is the source of drinking water for 26 million Americans.

Advocacy organisation the Environmental Working Group praised Mr Salazar for defending ‘the Southwest's right to plentiful, clean water’.

‘Despite significant pressure from the mining industry, the President and Secretary Salazar did not back down,’ Pew Environment Group said.

Read the full article, Grand Canyon Uranium Mining Claims to be Banned as Obama Tries to Protect National Treasure, on the Daily Mail website.