|
Please see news release. Thank you,
Jacqueline C. Banks Public Affairs Officer Kaibab National Forest (928) 635-8314 www.flickr.com/kaibabnationalforest
Kaibab National Forest Releases Review of Canyon Mine Documents
WILLIAMS, Ariz. – The Kaibab National Forest today released its review of the environmental documents associated with Canyon Mine, a uranium mine located about six miles south of the Grand Canyon National Park boundary on the Tusayan Ranger District.
The review is posted to the Kaibab National Forest website at http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/kaibab/home/?cid=FSM91_050263, along with information on the mineral validity examination of the Canyon Mine claims and other background documents on Canyon Mine including the final environmental impact statement, record of decision, and plan of operations.
Based on the results of the mineral validity examination, Denison Mines, which owns Canyon Mine, is expected to resume operations at the mine under its approved plan of operations. The mineral validity examination found that “a discovery of a valuable mineral deposit existed at the time of the segregated withdrawal on July 21, 2009 … as required under the 1872 Mining law” and that the “Canyon 74 and Canyon 75 claims have valid exiting rights that were established prior to the mineral withdrawal.”
The area where Canyon Mine is located was withdrawn from location and entry under the Mining Law, subject to valid existing rights, by the Secretary of Interior in January of this year. The withdrawal applies to new mining claims; exploration and development can still occur on valid existing mining claims.
Denison Mines approached Kaibab National Forest managers last year with the intention of resuming operations at Canyon Mine. It is Forest Service policy to only allow operations on mining claims within a withdrawal that have valid existing rights. Certified mineral examiners conducted the validity examination.
At the same time, Kaibab National Forest managers reviewed the existing environmental documentation related to Canyon Mine and determined that no additional review under the National Environmental Policy Act was required given that Denison Mines proposed to operate under its existing plan of operations.
For additional information and to review the Canyon Mine documents, please visit the Kaibab National Forest website at http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/kaibab/home/?cid=FSM91_050263. This electronic message contains information generated by the USDA solely for the intended recipients. Any unauthorized interception of this message or the use or disclosure of the information it contains may violate the law and subject the violator to civil or criminal penalties. If you believe you have received this message in error, please notify the sender and delete the email immediately. |
Attachment:
1650-1_so_canyon_mine_2012_0625.pdf
Description: 1650-1_so_canyon_mine_2012_0625.pdf
