The Uranium Producers of America has denied news reports that imply that the Grand Canyon National Park will be opened up for uranium mining, labelling such articles as disinformation.

The Obama administration in 2012 banned new uranium mining claims around the Grand Canyon National Park for 20 years. Reports continue to do the rounds that the Trump administration, which has been active in promoting domestic uranium mining, is open to projects near the Grand Canyon.

Democratic Presidential nominee Joe Biden recently said that he would shut down projects being considered near the Grand Canyon.

The Uranium Producers of America issued a statement on Thursday stressing that the companies it represented did not plan to mine in the park.

“We wish to state in no uncertain terms that nobody – including the US uranium industry who we represent – is advocating to open the Grand Canyon National Park to uranium mining.”

“Disinformation is a major issue facing Americans today,” the association said.

The statement noted that there were two existing uranium mines in northern Arizona, along with a few small-scale proposed mines, which were “well outside” the national park boundaries.

“The proposed mines will only be permitted to proceed in accordance with today's stringent environmental standards,” it said, pointing out that uranium mining of today were highly regulated.

“There are important differences between uranium mining from 50-plus years go and what we do in 2020.”

The US was the world's largest uranium producer until the early 1980s. US production fell in the 1980s, but imports into the US were of little concern because they mainly came from allies like Canada and Australia. However, in the past ten years, imports of uranium have shifted from Canada and Australia to geopolitical foes, like Russia, China and their allies.

The US Nuclear Working Group in April announced measures to revive and strengthen the US uranium industry.