Environmental Successes of President Barack Obama

Obama to Ban Uranium Mining around Grand Canyon

 By Deborah Zabarenko

ScientificAmerican.com

"The Obama administration is set to ban new uranium mining claims around the Grand Canyon for the next 20 years, a move hailed by conservation groups as a key to the president's environmental legacy.

The decision would put some one million acres of public lands outside Grand Canyon National Park off limits to all hard-rock mining for two decades, the longest moratorium allowed by law. Existing mining operations would continue.

The National Mining Association, an industry group, expressed disappointment, but stopped short of announcing an immediate challenge to the decision." Read the rest of the story here.

and then there was this last month...

Obama Administration Announces Standards to Keep Our Families Safe from Mercury and Other Pollutants

by Frances Beinecke

National Resources Defense Council Blog
"Whenever I talk with parents of young children about my work, they often ask me about mercury pollution.  They know it can harm children and pregnant women and they know it is pervasive, but they are unsure how to keep their families safe.

Today that job just got easier.  President Obama announced new standards to reduce mercury, lead, and other dangerous pollution from pwer plants.  Now dirty coal-fired plants that fought standards for decades will finally have to clean up their act."  Read the rest of the story here.