Members of Congress denounce Grand Canyon mining ban

A group of U.S. senators and congressmen have condemned Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar’s decision to withdraw more than one million acres of federal land in northern Arizona from hardrock mining.

“This decision is fueled by an emotional public relations campaign pitting the public’s love for the Grand Canyon against a modern form of low-impact mining that occurs many miles from the Canyon walls and in no way impacts the quality of drinking water from the Colorado River,” said U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. “It is deeply unfortunate that certain environmental groups have chosen to break faith with a 30 year-old compromise with environmentalists that successfully balanced conservation with mining and other commercial activities,” he continued, referencing the Arizona Wilderness Act of 1984.

Rep. David Schweikert, Ariz.-05, agreed. “I am extremely disappointed that the Obama Administration continues to do everything in its power to implement the job-killing policies of fringe environmental groups. At a time when we are desperate for jobs and economic growth, it’s clear political positioning got the best of the Administration’s decision.”

Sens. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah; John Barrasso, R-Wyo.; and Mike Lee, R-Utah, also released comments criticizing the decision, along with Reps. Rob Bishop, Utah-01; Jeff Flake, Ariz.-06; and Ben Quayle, Ariz.-03.