1.  Define the following words as used in the article:

• moratorium (from para. 1)
• uranium (from para. 1)
• denounced (from para. 4)
• impeding (from para. 5)
• Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) (from para. 8)
• unconscionable (from para. 13)
• unilaterally (from para. 15)

2.  What does/doesn't Secretary Salazar's moratorium include?

3.  Why has Secretary Salazar placed a 20 year moratorium on new uranium mining claims in the Grand Canyon region?

4.  For what reasons are Republicans like Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer opposed to a moratorium on uranium mining? Be specific.

5.  How does Utah Republican Rep. Rob Bishop view the decision to impose the moratorium?

6.  Do you support Secretary Salazar's decision?  Explain your answer.
Consider the following points of view in your response:

• What motivation do uranium mining companies have to prevent accidents at their mines?
• If opponents to uranium mining really believe uranium mining is as terrible as they say, do you think they would ban 100% of uranium mining if they could?  And if so, how would this affect the average American?
• Uranium is used in nuclear power plants, which supply about 20% of the U.S.'s electricity.  The Grand Canyon area contains as much as 40% of the U.S.'s known uranium resources.  Would you be willing to limit the electricity your household receives, reducing the amount you will have available to power air conditioning in the summer, TVs, computers, refrigerators and dishwashers, cell phones, video games, etc.?
• If uranium is in plentiful supply, should the government permit or ban mining companies from retrieving it?
• In the long run, will this decision increase energy prices for all Americans?
• Imposing a moratorium on new mines could minimize the chances of an accident occurring.
• Preserving our environment is more important than a few jobs.
• Nuclear energy is too dangerous.  All nuclear power plants should be shut down. Alternative energy sources should be found.
• There are uranium mines still in operation - and what they don't supply, we can buy from Canada or other uranium producing countries.