http://www.environmentarizona.org/news-releases/open-space/open-space-campaign-news http://www.environmentarizona.org/news-releases/open-space/open-space-campaign-news/next-president-must-protect-national-forests Statement of David Rogers on Behalf of Environment Arizona “The decision by a federal judge in Wyoming to jeopardize national forests across the country highlights the need for the next administration to introduce strong policies to protect these lands. Time and time again, the American people have called for strong protection of this country’s roadless national forests. Setting a record, more than 1.6 million people commented on protecting these last wild forests, with more than 95% asking for full protection. In terms of recreation, water quality, and habitat, the protection of these last wild forests is critical to the health and quality of the life we enjoy. It’s time to stop putting the timber industry in charge of our national forests; it is up to the next President to protect our national forests for all Americans.” http://www.environmentarizona.org/news-releases/open-space/open-space-campaign-news/next-president-must-protect-national-forests Thu, 13 Nov 2008 13:09:11 -0600 http://www.environmentarizona.org/news-releases/open-space/open-space-campaign-news/extraordinary-step-taken-to-protect-the-grand-canyon “In a vote of 20-2, with Republicans walking out on the vote, an American treasure received emergency help today from the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Natural Resources. Recognizing that extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures, Sub-committee Chairman Raul Grijalva (D-AZ) showed his courageous leadership by calling for a pause on a mining boom in the area of one of our most valued national treasures. Today, the Committee put the Bush administration in a timeout for rubber stamping an assault on the Grand Canyon. Now, American tourists won’t be forced to sit behind mining trucks as they go to visit one of our greatest American treasures. Due to a little known provision in the Federal Land Policy and Management Act, in an emergency situation, the act of the Committee alone can compel the Secretary of the Interior to remove lands from mineral leasing. This temporary withdrawal permits the Committee to slow a snowballing corporate land grab that could permanently damage a treasure that belongs to all Americans. Although this resolution provides a necessary temporary fix, ultimately the Grand Canyon and all national parks across the country need comprehensive mining reform of the 1872 Mining Law to protect these national treasures permanently.” http://www.environmentarizona.org/news-releases/open-space/open-space-campaign-news/extraordinary-step-taken-to-protect-the-grand-canyon Thu, 13 Nov 2008 13:14:40 -0600 http://www.environmentarizona.org/news-releases/open-space/open-space-campaign-news/worth-more-wild-the-value-of-arizonas-roadless-national-forests-is-2_2-billion $2.2 Billion at Stake in Arizona’s National ForestMining, logging, and oil/gas drilling in Arizona’s national forests jeopardizes $2.2 billion per year in Arizona business from transportation, lodging, equipment, and licenses for activities such as fishing, hunting, and wildlife watching, according to a new report released today by Environment Arizona.The Environment Arizona report on the value of recreation, water and wildlife, “Worth More Wild: The Value of Arizona’s Roadless National Forests,” analyzes data from a national survey done by the United States Fish & Wildlife Service.  Key findings of the report include:•    In 2006, 1.2 million Arizona residents participated in fishing, hunting, and wildlife watching, and these recreationists spent $2.2 billion in Arizona on transportation, lodging, equipment, licenses, and other related items.  The economic strength of this outdoor recreation relies on pristine and intact forestland.•    Annually, more than $200 million worth of freshwater comes from the Southwestern Forest Service region, which encompasses Arizona.•    Undeveloped national forests provide critical habitat to Arizona’s native wildlife, and at least 27 of the state’s endangered species would be even more threatened without the protection of roadless areas.“Pristine forests boost local economies, provide unique outdoor opportunities, preserve wildlife, and protect watersheds, but a major portion of our national forestland is defenseless against logging and mining,” said Erik Magnuson, Program Associate for Environment Arizona.Dave Baker owner of the Summit Hut in Tucson added, “I see the economic benefits of our wilderness everyday. However by business is only a fraction of the economic value generated from roadless areas. Local businesses including hotels, restaurants and many others see the ripple effects of the tourism that our roadless areas attract.”In Arizona, national forests face road building and resource extraction from mining, logging, and oil/gas drilling.  Since those who choose to recreate in national forests tend to look for untouched lands, spoiling those lands will send recreationists and their money elsewhere. Since 2000, Arizona residents have submitted 41,118 comments to the Forest Service, with the vast majority supporting complete protection of these wild forestlands.  Environment Arizona calls on the members of Arizona’s Congressional delegation to join fellow Representatives Pastor and Grijalva in protecting these untouched forests by supporting the Roadless Area Conservation Act (H.R. 2516).  The bill will protect 1.2 million acres of roadless forests in Arizona and 58.5 million acres of untouched forests nationally.  “We must preserve the beautiful and pristine parts of our national forests so that they can be shared and appreciated by everyone,” concluded Magnuson.  “Members of Arizona’s Congressional delegation should protect Arizona’s untouched forests and recreational dollars for generations to come.” - 30 - http://www.environmentarizona.org/news-releases/open-space/open-space-campaign-news/worth-more-wild-the-value-of-arizonas-roadless-national-forests-is-2_2-billion Sat, 17 Nov 2007 03:50:14 -0600 http://www.environmentarizona.org/news-releases/open-space/open-space-campaign-news/grand-canyon-too-good-to-mine House sub-committee considers bill to protect the Grand Canyon from future mining claims Statement by Program Associate, Erik Magnuson “We want to thank Representative Raul Grijalva for leading the charge to protect one of America’s greatest treasures from the toxic effects of hardrock mining. His bill (HR 5583) was discussed in a hearing today, which is the first step toward protecting the Grand Canyon from a growing threat. Unfortunately, the Senate has been slow to act to ensure that the record number of new claims around many of our national parks don’t turn into a record number of new Superfund sites. The House passed comprehensive mining reform last year that would stop mining companies from sacrificing our national treasures for their corporate bottom line. Now, the Senate must do the same.” In the fall of 2007, the House of Representatives passed the Hardrock Mining and Reclamation Act of 2007 (H.R. 2262), which outlines protections for the Grand Canyon and other national parks. Since that time, the Bush administration’s Forest Service gave a British mining company called Vane Minerals permits to start exploratory drilling three miles from a lookout point at the Grand Canyon’s southern rim. That’s just the beginning. In the past five years alone, other mining companies and individuals have staked more than 1100 claims within five miles of Grand Canyon National Park. Hardrock mining companies use a range of toxic chemicals to extract gold, silver, copper, and other minerals from the earth. In one mining process, cyanide is poured over mounds of earth to extract low grade ore. This combined with other operations has led to fish kills, dead birds around mines, and fenced off areas of contamination. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has estimated that hardrock mining is the number one source of toxic pollution in the United States and that it has contaminated 40 percent of western watersheds. http://www.environmentarizona.org/news-releases/open-space/open-space-campaign-news/grand-canyon-too-good-to-mine Thu, 13 Nov 2008 13:17:17 -0600 http://www.environmentarizona.org/news-releases/open-space/open-space-campaign-news/broad-coalition-collects-one-million-comments-from-around-the-country-urging-protections-for-americas-national-forests As the new home of Arizona PIRG's environmental work, Environment Arizona can be contacted with any questions regarding this news release.  The Arizona http://www.environmentarizona.org/news-releases/open-space/open-space-campaign-news/broad-coalition-collects-one-million-comments-from-around-the-country-urging-protections-for-americas-national-forests Sat, 17 Nov 2007 03:50:14 -0600