AP is reporting that Interior Secretary Ken Salazar will announce the closure of 1 million acres of federal lands to mining claims in northern Arizona because of their proximity to the boundaries of Grand Canyon National Park. The objective is to undertake a 2-year study on whether the areas should be permanently closed to mining. It does not affect existing claims.
I have to presume this refers only to BLM lands, since National Forests are managed by the Dept. of Agriculture. [right, all areas requested to be withdrawn by mining opponents]