URGENT WATER and MINING ACTION ISSUES

Call the Governor’s office and ask why nothing is being done about water in Arizona. Governor Napolitano has finally sent a letter in support of removing the Santa Ritas and Grand Canyon from mining. Also, mention urgent legislation needed on water and the mining issues below.
Telephone (602) 542-4331 Toll Free 1-(800) 253-0883 Fax (602) 542-1381
Many mining issues translate down to the fact we need Arizona legislation to require that mining companies are not exempt from well impact rules—like everyone else. The Pima County Board of Supervisors sent Rep. Paton a letter on Feb. 12, 2008. Let him know you support their request. Contact Rep. Jonathan Paton to respond to our Supervisors (602)926-3235 See request letter on www.savethesantacruzaquifer.info

OPPOSE exploration for uranium on North Rim of Grand Canyon:
Mike Williams, Supervisor
Kaibab National Forest
(928) 635-8200
Call Governor and Congress persons to express your outrage at this destruction of our national heritage. Exploration is not necessary if they cannot mine the territory—and exploration drills are destructive also! Last week the Governor “requested” a halt to the drills. A law suit has been filed. against the Forest Service for violating the National Environmental Policy Act by giving approval to Vane Minerals Group to drill up to 39 exploration holes at seven locations. The law suit to prohibit exploration was a success!

Environmental Impact hearing on Rosemont mine scheduled:
Ms. Jeanine A. Derby, Supervisor
USDA, Coronado National Forest
(520) 388-8300

The Forest Service encourages public participation in the EIS process on environmental and social impact.

Written comments are also accepted through July 11.
Inform yourself of the issues and write intelligent requests. See www.savethesantacruzaquifer.info
Mining Law Reform:
Bill has passed in the House, and will be coming up in the U.S. Senate. Contact AZ senators and the Senators in other states you have family and friends who don’t know about the devastation of mining. Inform them so they can inform their Senators. We don’t want the House Bill watered down by the Senate! Also let Kyl and McCain know we want a bill in the Senate to support removal of Coronado and Grand Canyon from mining.
www.mining-law-reform.info
Jon Kyl (Tucson 575-8633) (202)224-4521; John McCain (Tucson 670-6334) (202)224-2235

Land Exchange Act:
Protect Oak Flats and Apache Leap region from mining by a partnership of the two mining companies with the worst possible environmental records on the planet (including U.S.).This act will allow them to avoid the environmental process mandated on public land. Bill has not passed the House, but was introduced by Kyl and McCain in the Senate last year.
For full details http://www.mining-law-reform.info/IndexSup.htm
Ed Pastor (202) 225-4065; Raul Grijalva (Tucson 622-6788) (202) 225-2435

Keep informed on local water issues:
Water Facts: Every Monday at 6:30 pm on Access Tucson channel 72 or Internet:
Groundwater Awareness League website: www.g-a-l.info
Mining issues in Tucson region website: www.SavetheSantaCruzAquifer.info

Contact info for U.S. Congress persons: http://w2.eff.org/congress
Washington offices, toll free: 1-800-828-0498 or 1-866-220-0044 (9-5 EST)

Information furnished by Groundwater Awareness League, Inc. Contact: 520/207-6506;

An on-line copy of this report with hot links is available on www.g-a-l.info