PETITION CLOSED

  • The time period for signing this petition has ended.
Thank Secretary Salazar for Supporting Grand Canyon Protections
  1. Signatures
    220 out of 500
    Petitioning
    1. Secretary Ken Salazar
  2. Created By
    Jess Leber
    Washington, DC
About this Petition Petition Letter Petition Updates

Last week, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar traveled to the Grand Canyon to make an important announcement—that he favored a 20-year uranium mining ban around the Grand Canyon, the most environmentally-protective option on a spectrum of otherwise poor choices.

The announcement was a huge victory for many local and national coalitions across the country, who have advocated fiercely to protect one of the world's greatest natural treasures from despoilment by mining and nuclear industry interests. It was also big news for Change.org member Suzanne Sparling, an Arizona resident who started a petition on Change.org to protect the landscape and rivers she loves. Her petition allowed more than 50,000 Change.org members to tell the Interior Department to support the 20-year ban of uranium mining that Secretary Salazar set in motion last week.

This is a monumental step in showing how much we can all do when joining our voices and working together, but it is not the final step.

Secretary Salazar said that he will extend a temporary ban for 6 months, and now officials will finish scientific studies necessary to enact a 20-year ban. But the announcement was a huge political victory in the face of intense industry lobbying, and supporters of the petition should feel heartened by the good news.

But surely the industry will continue to exert its influence and power to weaken this decision. Sign this petition to thank Secretary Salazar and encourage him to follow through with his initial support for a 20-year uranium mining ban.

Why People Are Signing
Recent Signatures

Thank you for protecting the Grand Canyon

Greetings,

I am writing to applaud your support for a 20-year uranium mining ban on lands surrounding the Grand Canyon. Thank you for standing up to the lobbying of the mining industry and to the short-sighted views of some local officials.

The Grand Canyon is a spectacular national treasure and should be protected for all to enjoy for many years to come. Polluting the land, water and vistas with uranium mining would be a fool-hardy decision that our nation would surely regret in years to come.

I further urge you to follow-through on this initial support by enacting the 20-year uranium mining ban once all of the environmental studies are completed.

Thank you,

[Your name]

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