Commentary: On the eve of the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service, Environment New Mexico joined with local leaders and Environment America affiliates across the Southwestern U.S. to announce a nationwide campaign to get President Obama to stop new uranium mining outside America’s most iconic national park: the Grand Canyon.
More than 50 organizers have descended to nine cities in New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona, and Nevada, including five here in Las Cruces where they have spent the last three days gathering over 4000 petition signatures and identifying more than 500 small businesses to urge the president to create the Greater Grand Canyon Heritage National Monument before he leaves office.
“The Grand Canyon is one of the most amazing places on earth, and it’s part of what makes the southwest so special, along with other treasures of our public lands- like the Organ Mountains and Chaco Canyon. But without action to stop it, reckless mining could ruin this national icon for generations,” urged Brent Murcia, Campaign Organizer with Environment New Mexico, at a press conference in front of Las Cruces City Hall.
The national park itself is one of the nation’s most visited, drawing 5.5 million people each year for hiking, paddling, and more, sustaining thousands of jobs and generating $300 million in economic activity.
The proposed monument, supported by many New Mexicans and more than half a million Americans including tribal leaders, is home to North America’s largest old growth ponderosa pine forest and dozens of unique and endangered wildlife, from bighorn sheep to the California condor. It also hosts thousands of archeological sites dating back millennia.
Kevin Bixby, Executive Director of the Southwest Environmental Center, highlighted the threat to wildlife, explaining their effort to save the endangered Mexican Wolf. “The Grand Canyon region is not just an awe inspiring landscape, it is essential to the conservation of Mexican wolves. Biologists have identified the Grand Canyon as one of three areas where core populations of wolves need to be established to ensure their long-term survival. Without an intact Grand Canyon, we may lose wolves in the Southwest forever,” he said.
Mining isn’t currently allowed within the park itself, and new mines are currently prevented under a 20-year moratorium issued by the Obama administration in 2012.
But as the price of uranium has climbed, companies are pushing for the moratorium to be lifted. One company, Energy Fuels, Inc. has begun to reopen a mine not covered by the moratorium, just six miles from the park’s popular South Rim.
Old mines around and inside the national park have left water contamination that lingers to this day, and new mining could further harm the Colorado River, which provides drinking water to more than 25 million people downstream.
Not only would the Greater Grand Canyon Heritage National Monument have tremendous environmental value, it is incredibly important for the local economy and culture.
Carrie Hamblen, President and CEO of the Las Cruces Green Chamber of Commerce highlighted how important the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument (OMDP) has been to the city of Las Cruces. “In Las Cruces, because of OMDP, we have been recognized nationally and internationally, most recently as one of the top 10 places to visit in 2016 by Lonely Planet. Our local businesses have created products and services that highlight the monument, including the OMDP coffee blend, the OMDP Bread pudding, the OMDP cocktail, and more!”
Local Las Cruces artist Joey Avalos showcased his painting of the Grand Canyon inspired by a 1966 photograph of him and his sisters kneeling at a wooden cross in the canyon. “We are blessed to have this special land, and I support the effort to protect it,” he said.
“Our message today is clear: the Grand Canyon is on the of the most amazing places on earth. But right now, toxic mining threatens the region around the canyon, home to endangered wildlife, the Colorado River, old growth pine forest, and Native American heritage. We’ve found that business leaders, campus leaders, and other community leaders here in Las Cruces agree: As we celebrate the 100th birthday of our national parks, there’s no better time for the president to protect the Grand Canyon forever,” concluded Murcia.
Environment New Mexico is statewide, citizen-funded advocacy group working for a cleaner, greener, healthier future. www.EnvironmentNewMexico.org