A preliminary report in the St. George (Utah) News says the Economic Coalition of Five Counties and "the Arizona-Utah Coalition of Local Governments is currently fighting to keep the federal government from putting a stop to mining on the Arizona Strip." The group held a public hearing today in St. George that appears to have drawn mostly supporters of keeping federal lands open to mining to foster economic growth and provide a domestic source of uranium for nuclear power plants.
Opponents worry about possible pollution and water contamination. [right, uranium mine in northern Arizona. Credit, VANE Minerals]
The hearing was co-chaired by Mohave County Arizona Supervisor Buster Johnson, and Utah Commissioner Alan Gardner, representing Washington County. The hearing was supposed to have been broadcast live and recorded for later viewing.