Grand Canyon National Park, south rim
The action was taken by the Interior Department under Ken Salazar, but
the industry challenged it:
Mining industry groups say a ban on the filing of new hard rock mining claims near the Grand Canyon is irresponsible public policy, but the federal government and conservationists say it will protect water flowing through the canyon from potential contamination.
The issue is crowding to the
edge of the Grand Canyon National Park with large scale mines. The U.S. District Court in Phoenix has just ruled,
earlier today. It's not made the newspaper yet, only a few activist groups have posted the news so far, so it's not even "hot off the presses" quite yet.
The ban was adopted January 2012 to protect the Grand Canyon’s watersheds. The withdrawal prohibits new mining claims and development on old claims that lack “valid existing rights” to mine.
This only came in by email, so I can't link it, but here's the concluding words of the decision from U.S. District Judge David Campbell (a George W. Bush appointee):
Ultimately, the question in this case is whether DOI, when faced with uncertainty due to a lack of definitive information, and a low risk of significant environmental harm, can proceed cautiously by withdrawing land for a period of time under the FLPMA. The Court can find no legal principle that prevents DOI from acting in the face of uncertainty. Nor can the Court conclude that the Secretary abused his discretion or acted arbitrarily, capriciously, or in violation of law when he chose to err on the side of caution in protecting a national treasure – Grand Canyon National Park.
IT IS ORDERED that Defendants’ motions for summary judgment (Docs. 198, 208) are granted. Plaintiffs’ motions for summary judgment (Docs. 167, 170, 173) are denied. The Clerk shall enter judgment accordingly and terminate this matter.