BLM officials told attendees at the St. George hearing yesterday on mining in northern Arizona that the final EIS is expected to be delivered to the Secretary of Interior by the end of October, and the Secretary is expected to take action within 30 days to withdraw nearly 1 million acres of federal lands from mineral entry for 20 years. It had previously been thought the decision would not be made until January 2012.
Kris Hefton, with VANE Minerals, reported this information to the Arizona Mining Alliance meeting in Tucson. VANE was actively exploring for uranium in the withdrawal areas.
[right, withdrawal areas. Credit, BLM]