Radioactive waste threat to Grand Canyon

As the Grand Canyon National Park marks its centenary, it is fighting to prevent nearby lands from contamination by new uranium mining. A 20-year ban on mining remains in force, but is under review


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20km 12 miles

Uranium mine
Mining withdrawal areas (effective Jan 21, 2012 – Jan 20, 2032)
Active uranium mining claim


Feb 26, 1919: President Woodrow Wilson establishes Grand Canyon National Park

1950: Uranium found in Orphan copper mine near Grand Canyon Village

1950s-70s: Uranium mined around Grand Canyon for use in nuclear weapons

2006: Mining claims start to rise as uranium prices go up

2007: Campaigning begins to stop uranium mining in area of national park

2012: Secretary of the Interior isolates 407,334 hectares of land around Grand Canyon – protecting it
from mining for 20 years

2018: President Trump under pressure to lift ban in effort to reduce imports of “critical minerals”
present in U.S.


Sources: Grand Canyon Trust, National Park Service, History Channel, National Geographic,
Google Maps 
Pictures: Roger Bolsius, Creative Commons
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