Interior Blocks Mining Claims On Colorado, Green, Dolores Rivers - AP

[hatrack]

MOAB, Utah — Interior Secretary Gail Norton approved an order recently that prohibits mining companies from making claims on nearly 200 miles of scenic rivers in southeastern Utah.

The order will provide 20 years of protection for 111,895 acres of public lands along the Green, Colorado, and Dolores rivers. The order also helps protect at last 161 prehistoric sites, habitat for six threatened and endangered species, and 32 recreation facilities along the Colorado River.

"This order is an additional layer of protection for some of the most prized recreational riverways in the West," Norton said during a ceremony at the Big Bend Campground on the Colorado River east of Moab. "This will ensure that the scenic and natural character of these special places is sustained for years to come."

EDIT

http://www.enn.com/news/2004-09-14/s_27179.asp

"Months to come" would be my guess. Anyone care to guess just how long after November 2nd these orders (which are administrative in nature and can be turned on or off like a faucet) will remain in place?

[blindpig]

1. see, bu$h is an environmentalist!

what a blatant, pathetic campaign ploy. I suppose it might be a sop to some of the hook & bullet crowd who are on the verge of going off the reservation, but they'd have to want to be fooled.

[hatrack]

2. This is as phony as greenwashing gets

It reminded me of Norton shuffling off to Colorado for the Great Sand Dunes photo-op. It went from National Monument to National Park this week - after 13 years of lobbying efforts by Colorado's delegation - but she was, of course, there to polish up her (campaign) buttons.