grijalva.house.gov

Raul M. Grijalva

Rep. Raul Grijalva is pushing to make a temporary ban on the filing of new mining claims in the Grand Canyon region permanent.

The Arizona Democrat who chairs the House Natural Resources Committee said Saturday at the Grand Canyon that he'll introduce the legislation in the coming week and is hopeful about its chances for passage by the Democratic-led House.

“The public wants us to do it," Grijalva said. "The economies of the region need it, and the Grand Canyon needs something permanent and sustainable for its future.”

Grijalva said proponents then would deal with the Republican-led Senate and for now are giving that chamber "the benefit of the doubt."

The Obama administration put about 1,562 square miles outside the boundaries of the national park off-limits to new hard rock mining claims until 2032.

Mining groups criticized Obama's ban, with the National Mining Association saying it puts the domestic supply chain at risk.