Dear Activist,

Recently, President Barack Obama visited the Grand Canyon, America's most iconic landmark. But uranium mining within miles of its majestic rim threatens to tarnish this timeless treasure.

Let the Obama administration know that the Grand Canyon must be protected.

The U.S. still has on the books a 19th century law that allows mining around dozens of national parks and in most national forestlands. Signed by President Ulysses S. Grant with prospectors and pack mules in mind, the 1872 Mining Law allows gold, uranium and other hardrock metals to be taken from most western public lands almost for free and with few restrictions or cleanup requirements.

The Obama administration recently took emergency action to halt temporarily new claimstaking around Grand Canyon National Park. Now, its Department of Interior is asking the public whether mining should be prohibited on a long-term basis around the park's boundaries. While this action is an important first step, neither this treasure nor dozens like it will be safe until Congress gives mining a new law.

We need your help. Please send a letter to Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar. Thank the Obama administration for taking emergency action and offer your support for the proposed 20-year "withdrawal" of 1 million acres around Grand Canyon National Park from new mining claims. Ask Secretary Salazar to protect our parks and forests on a permanent basis by working with Congress to modernize the 1872 Mining Law.

With your letter of support, we can ensure these special places will be preserved for future generations.

Sincerely,
Jane Danowitz
U.S. Public Lands Director
Pew Environment Group