Red Lodge Clearinghouse

On Monday, the Sierra Club, the Center for Biological Diversity and Grand Canyon Trust asked Kaibab National Forest officials to withdraw permits issued to VANE Minerals for seven new uranium-exploration drilling sites just south of Grand Canyon National Park. The Forest Service approved the company's plan of operations Dec. 20. Some of the drilling sites are within two miles of the park.

The groups say the Forest Service erred in approving the operation under a "categorical exclusion" from the National Environmental Policy Act, which the agency pursued because the exploration would not have significant impacts.

"If the Forest Service wishes to proceed with this proposal in the face of significant controversy and opposition, it must at least fully involve the public and prepare a detailed, comprehensive environmental analysis as required by the National Environmental Policy Act," the groups wrote in a Feb. 11 letter to Kaibab National Forest officials.

Forest Service officials say they have no alternative but to allow the company access to its mining claims under the 1872 mining law.

But Sandy Bahr of the Grand Canyon chapter of the Sierra Club said the agency has both the authority and the responsibility to examine potential impacts of drilling exploratory holes under NEPA.

"We think the park deserves more consideration than a categorical exclusion, which doesn't really take seriously the potential environmental impact or allow for public comment," she said. Uranium exploration is occurring on nearby BLM lands as well, she said.

Jackie Denk, a spokeswoman for Kaibab National Forest, said the agency did not undertake a full environmental review because the exploration activity may not lead to a full mining operation.

"The proposal was to conduct exploratory activities only, not actual mining," she said. "If VANE Minerals, or any other entity, seeks to conduct actual mining, then a new environmental analysis will be conducted to address the potential impacts of those actions."

The agency mailed a public scoping letter to interested individuals last March, and issued a 30-day formal comment period March 15, according to the agency. Information about the proposal was also posted on the agency's Web site.

London-based VANE Minerals believes extensive uranium deposits, called breccia pipe, underlie the area.

In a statement issued last month, VANE said it was "very encouraged" by the agency's approval and believes it "has established a process whereby approvals can be obtained for projects on forest lands on a timely basis moving forward."

A new uranium boom?

If VANE launches a full-scale uranium operation, it would be the first in the area since the 1980s, when uranium prices fell.

The VANE proposal is part of new uranium boom in the Southwest sparked by a spike in uranium prices over the past few years. According to the Forest Service statement, 2,100 mining claims have been filed on the Tusayan Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest in the wake of an increase in uranium prices and that number "is increasing on a weekly basis."

Overall, the number of claims West-wide increased 80 percent between 2003 and 2007 from about 200,000 to more than 375,000, according to an analysis by the Environmental Working Group.

The uranium boom of the mid-20th century left behind a legacy of health problems and contamination. The Environmental Working Group and other critics are worried that a uranium revival will bring more of the same.

"In the face of uranium's tragic history, the new uranium boom at the doorstep of the Grand Canyon is a serious problem," said Taylor McKinnon of the Center for Biological Diversity.

Local officials share those concerns. Last week, the board of supervisors in Coconino County, Ariz., voted unanimously to try to stop any uranium operations in the area. The county has asked the Forest Service to withdraw potential uranium mining areas to the north and south of Grand Canyon National Park from mineral leasing.

The Navajo Nation, the Hopi and the Havasupai tribes have voted to ban uranium mining on their land.

In November of last year, the House of Representatives passed mining reform legislation that would give the federal government the power to halt mines that would "impair the land or resources" of national parks or monuments. The Senate has not yet taken up the bill.

Meanwhile, VANE Minerals is expected to submit a second proposal this spring to drill more exploratory holes in the area, according to the Forest Service.

April Reese writes from Santa Fe, N.M.