A group of Arizona state legislators called today for the withdrawal of 1 million acres of federal land in northern Arizona from mining activities while hydrologic and hydrogeologic studies are carried out on the potential impacts on the regions water. Rep. Daniel Patterson of Tucson posted the letter to BLM officials on his blog today. [right, areas under consideration for withdrawal in red. Credit, BLM]
The BLM is collecting comments on the proposed withdrawal as part of the EIS process underway, following two public meetings earlier this month.