Urge your representative to support H.R. 644, The Grand Canyon Watersheds Protection Act, and permanently protect this treasured landscape

Salazar Temporarily Protects The Grand Canyon
Recently, we asked you to urge Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar to withdraw nearly a million acres around the Grand Canyon from mining for 20 years. Thanks to the thousands of you that responded.

Although Salazar has yet to protect the canyon for 20 years, the area is withdrawn for the next two years.

The Grand Canyon

Grijalva Introduces Permanent Protection
While temporary withdrawal from mining is important, Congress needs to act to permanently protect the area.

Congressman Raul Grijalva (D-AZ) has introduced H.R. 644, The Grand Canyon Watersheds Protection Act, which would permanently withdraw a million acres of public land within the watersheds of the Grand Canyon from mineral exploration under the 1872 Mining Law.

An increase in uranium claim staking, exploration and mining threatens the Grand Canyon – one of our most beautiful national treasures. Industrial activity around the park could upset the ecological balance of the area or contaminate the Grand Canyon Watershed.

TAKE ACTION!
Please act now and urge your Representative to sign on as a co-sponsor of H.R. 644 to help protect this irreplaceable landscape.

Instructions:

• Read the sample letter below and edit the letter text and subject header if you are able. Customized letters have a greater impact!
• Click "Send My Letter!" to send your letter to your representative.

For More Information:,

• Read a report on the threat of uranium mining in Grand Canyon National Park.
• Uranium Exploration Near Grand Canyon, by Felicity Barringer in the New York Times. 2/07/2008.
• Interior to halt uranium mining at Grand Canyon, in USA Today. 7/20/2009.