Critics of recent steps by the Forest Service to allow drilling in close proximity to the South Rim of Grand Canyon got some great news recently. On April 4, a federal judge issued an injunction against both the Kaibab National Forest and British mining firm VANE Minerals—effectively putting a halt to uranium exploration that had been approved in December without public comment.
VANE’s drilling would have represented the first of five major exploratory projects slated for the public lands in the immediate vicinity of Grand Canyon National Park. The unfolding plans had unleashed a flood of opposition from environmental groups, concerned citizens, and local and state politicians. This high-profile battle is likely far from over given the rising price of uranium on world markets.
