The US Supreme Court has declined to hear the mining industry's challenge to a 20-year ban on uranium mining near the Grand Canyon, according to the Supreme Court's order list for Monday.
WASHINGTON (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 01st October, 2018) The US Supreme Court has declined to hear the mining industry's challenge to a 20-year ban on uranium mining near the Grand Canyon, according to the Supreme Court's order list for Monday.
The National Mining Association and the American Exploration and Mining Association had argued that the Interior Department based their decision to ban mining near the Grand Canyon on an unconstitutional provision in the Federal law, according to court documents.
In the court's order list, "NATIONAL MINING ASSN. V. ZINKE, SEC. OF INTERIOR, ET AL" and "AM. EXPLORATION & MIN. ASSN. V. ZINKE, SEC. OF INTERIOR, ET AL," were included among the hearing requests that the Supreme Court denied on Monday.
A number of conservationist and environmental groups, including the Center for Biological Diversity, the National Parks Conservation Association, the Sierra Club and the Grand Canyon Trust praised the Supreme Court's decision.
"After an extensive review process and substantial public participation, the Department of the Interior's original decision to protect one of the world's most enduring landscapes, the Havasupai, and millions of visitors and downstream water users was a strong and appropriate one," member of the National Parks Conservation Association Kevin Dahl said in a press release. "We commend the Supreme Court for upholding the ban with this decision."
The groups intervened in the case in 2013, shortly after the mining industry challenged the ban in federal court. The groups have defended the ban, along with the Interior Department in both former President Barack Obama and current President Donald Trump's administrations.
