14 DAY TRIAL // Obama has scaled up efforts to protect the environment, a path visible mostly due to a recent uranium mining ban proposal, seeking to protect the beauty and the historical value of the Grand Canyon.
Once this legal measure, recently announced and already cherished by conservation groups all across the US, is implemented, it will guarantee the protection of 1 million square acres of land located in the vicinity of Grand Canyon, the Guardian informs.
This measure is expected to conserve the iconic landscape displayed by the region. However, opponents qualify it as a mere measure seeking to sensitize eco-conscious voters.
Republicans, along with representatives from major mining companies affected by Obama's decision argue that such a regulation would affect mining communities and cut a significant number of jobs, potentially giving a much-needed boost to the economy.
Even under these circumstances, the 20-year ban is not expected to impact 3,000 mining claims already recorded for this region. On the other hand, the project will overcome an overexploitation of the region that, despite its financial advantages, could put the ecosystem at risk.
“The Grand Canyon is an iconic place for all Americans and visitors from around the world. Uranium remains an important part of our nation’s comprehensive energy resources, but it is appropriate to pause, identify what the predicted level of mining and its impacts on the Grand Canyon would be, and decide what level of risk is acceptable to take with this national treasure,” stated The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Director Bob Abbey.
Furthermore, this ban’s adoption would draw up a new trajectory for the mining industry, putting the balance of the Grand Canyon above monetary advantages while ditching the trend launched in the last years of the Bush administration, when northern Arizona has started being considered a gold mine for companies exploiting uranium, mostly due to the growing price of the metal.
It seems that the ban is truly much needed, since experts have discovered increased levels of arsenic in the area, as a result of old operations seeking to provide considerable amounts of uranium.
The ban was first announced last year, in October, in an attempt to prevent new claims for the same kind of practices. Nevertheless, this decision is not aiming to annihilate all operations performed to obtain uranium, since it is still considered one of the most important resources in the US, along with oil and gas.