Tucson, AZ—Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ) has announced a Congressional Field Hearing as Chairman of the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands of the House Natural Resources Committee.

The hearing, “Community Impacts of Uranium Mining near the Grand Canyon” will be on Friday, March 28, 2008.  The hearing will begin at 10:00 AM at the Flagstaff City Hall, 211 West Aspen Ave in Flagstaff, AZ.

Grijalva recently introduced the Grand Canyon Watersheds Protection Act of 2008 (H.R. 5583), which will withdraw approximately one million acres near the Grand Canyon from mineral exploration under the 1872 Mining Act.

“I’m very concerned about the proposal to allow uranium mining near our most famous National Park, the Grand Canyon,” Grijalva said. “The 1872 mining law allows this activity on our public lands and as a result, clean up of old uranium mine sites in this region has not been adequately dealt with. Many of the surrounding tribes have been experiencing ongoing health problems and this hearing will present the opportunity to examine these issues and determine what federal agencies are doing to protect human health and the environment.”

The hearing is a joint effort of Rep. Grijalva’s subcommittee and the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.  

 Hearing witnesses will provide testimony on the Forest Service’s proposal to allow uranium mining. Witnesses include local elected officials, Tribal chairpersons, Grand Canyon area business and environmental representatives and uranium experts.