The National Mining Association and the American Exploration and Mining Association have appealed the federal court to lift the ban on mining near the Grand Canyon, reported Reuters.
In 2012, the US government had set aside new mining claims and limited mining development on existing claims over 20 years.
Department of the Interior had imposed a ban to protect water flow and eliminate potential contamination in the region.
The decision was opposed by the mining companies claiming that the Interior has no authority to prohibit mining.
US District Judge David Campbell identified the Interior’s authority under federal law "to err on the side of caution in protecting a national treasure – Grand Canyon national park."
Environmental law firm Earthjustice attorney Ted Zukoski said that uranium mining would pollute the region.
National Mining Association spokesman Luke Popovich was quoted by the news agency as calling the ban "an irresponsible action by the secretary of the Interior in view of the absence of any significant showing of environmental harm that could possibly have come from a mining activity in this vicinity."
