TWS denounces Trump rule that would “fast track” mining on federal lands
Greater Grand Canyon Watershed, AZ
Jessica Pope
TWS slams Trump plan to speed mining near sensitive landscapes
The Trump administration has published a new regulation that fast-tracks large mining projects, making them eligible for expedited permitting. The rule invites mining companies and federal agencies to shortcut environmental review and public engagement of risky mining projects and could hasten extraction on the doorstep of the Grand Canyon or the Boundary Waters.
Alison Flint, senior legal director for The Wilderness Society said:
“This is an effort to bootstrap a harmful industry into the FAST-41 scheme, which was intended to cover highway and transportation projects to support community needs. FAST-41 is not suited to mining, which can be incredibly destructive when poorly executed. Indeed, the industry has a long history of polluting waterways and communities. Taking short cuts on scientific review could cause irreversible damage to communities and special places, including the Grand Canyon and Minnesota's Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, two of the country’s most visited and revered public lands.”
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For more information, contact Tony Iallonardo at tony_iallonardo@tws.org.
