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PHOENIX, AZ –U.S. Congressman Paul Gosar, DDS (AZ-01) released the following statement today following the announcement of the Obama Administration’s decision to withdraw approximately 1 million acres of federal land in northern Arizona from uranium mining:

"Today’s actions show that the administration continues to count on the distortion of truths and the outright denial of facts, to push their big government agenda.  President Obama and Secretary Salazar are showing a clear indifference to the separation of powers and instead of leading our nation are being more divisive than ever.

As the representative of a large portion of the Grand Canyon National Park, the preservation of this natural treasure is very important to me.  I would not want any activity to be done that would threaten that vital aspect of our economy or the aesthetic beauty of the canyon that’s why the original buffer was put into place.

In is important we realize that the rhetoric surrounding this issue focuses on facts, not scare tactics.  The Administration’s land withdrawal is unnecessary to protect the Grand Canyon.  The park currently has a land buffer.   No uranium mine can exist within the park’s boundaries, or the park buffer.   It is simply false and misleading to assert that if the land in the strip is not withdrawn, uranium mining will take place “in” the canyon or “in the park.” 

I strongly believe cautious development with strong oversight under federal statue strikes the careful balance between economic activity and environmental protection and thus oppose the proposed arbitrary withdrawal."

In the 1980’s, former Arizona Congressman Morris Udall, now-Senator John McCain, and other Congressional leaders negotiated a compromise with the uranium mining industry, native Americans, environmentalists, livestock and other stakeholder groups which formed the basis for designating Arizona’s first wilderness areas as buffer zones around the Grand Canyon National Park.  The withdrawal area being considered by the Department of Interior was specifically identified for uranium mining and was opened up for economic activity as part of that negotiated agreement.

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