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How a Few Brave Americans Took On a Powerful Company and the Federal Government to Save a Beloved National Park

Gerald Bell

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Published in Coal River: How A Few Brave Americans Took On A Powerful Company And The Federal Government To Save The Land They Love

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A Group Of People Protesting Against A Company's Plans To Build A Road Through A National Park. Coal River: How A Few Brave Americans Took On A Powerful Company And The Federal Government To Save The Land They Love

In the early 1960s, a powerful company called the Kennecott Copper Corporation proposed to build a road through the heart of the Grand Canyon National Park. The road would have allowed the company to access a rich copper deposit, but it would have also destroyed the pristine beauty of one of America's most iconic natural wonders.

Coal River: How a Few Brave Americans Took On a Powerful Company - and the Federal Government - to Save The Land They Love

by Michael Shnayerson

4.3 out of 5

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A small group of concerned citizens, led by a young woman named Katie Lee, decided to fight back. They formed a grassroots organization called the Grand Canyon Coalition and launched a campaign to stop the road.

The coalition faced long odds. Kennecott was a powerful company with deep pockets, and the government seemed to be on its side. But Lee and her allies refused to give up. They organized protests, lobbied Congress, and filed lawsuits.

Their efforts eventually paid off. In 1968, President Lyndon Johnson signed an executive Free Download banning the construction of the road. The Grand Canyon was saved.

The story of the Grand Canyon Coalition is a testament to the power of ordinary citizens to make a difference. It is a story of courage, determination, and perseverance.

The Birth of the Grand Canyon Coalition

Katie Lee was born in 1933 in Flagstaff, Arizona, a small town on the edge of the Grand Canyon. She grew up exploring the canyon's vast wilderness, and she developed a deep love for its beauty and solitude.

In the early 1960s, Lee learned about Kennecott's plans to build a road through the canyon. She was horrified. She knew that the road would destroy the very thing that she loved most about the canyon.

Lee decided to fight back. She organized a group of like-minded citizens and formed the Grand Canyon Coalition. The coalition's mission was simple: to stop the road.

The coalition's first meeting was held in a small church in Flagstaff. About 20 people attended, including Lee, her husband, and a few of her friends. They didn't have any money, and they didn't have any experience in activism. But they were united by their love of the Grand Canyon, and they were determined to save it.

The Fight Against the Road

The coalition's first challenge was to raise awareness of Kennecott's plans. They organized protests, wrote letters to the editor, and gave speeches at local meetings. They also contacted members of Congress and the federal government.

At first, their efforts seemed to fall on deaf ears. Kennecott was a powerful company, and the government seemed to be on its side. But the coalition refused to give up. They continued to raise awareness, and they began to build support for their cause.

In 1966, the coalition filed a lawsuit against the government, challenging the legality of the road. The lawsuit was a long shot, but it was the coalition's only hope of stopping the road.

The lawsuit went to trial in 1968. The trial lasted for several months, and it was filled with drama and suspense. In the end, the judge ruled in favor of the coalition. He found that the government had not properly considered the environmental impact of the road.

The judge's ruling was a major victory for the coalition. It meant that the government could not build the road without conducting a full environmental impact study. The coalition had won a major victory, but their fight was not over.

The Road to Victory

Kennecott appealed the judge's ruling, and the case went all the way to the Supreme Court. In 1970, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the coalition. The Court held that the government had to conduct a full environmental impact study before it could approve the road.

The Supreme Court's ruling was a major victory for the coalition. It meant that the road could not be built without the government's approval, and the government could not approve the road without conducting a full environmental impact study.

The coalition's victory was a major turning point in the history of environmental protection. It was the first time that a citizen group had successfully stopped a major development project on environmental grounds.

The coalition's victory also helped to raise awareness of the importance of environmental protection. It showed that ordinary citizens could make a difference, and it inspired other groups to fight for their own environmental causes.

The Grand Canyon Today

Today, the Grand Canyon is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. It is also one of the most protected national parks in the country. The Grand Canyon Coalition's victory in the 1960s helped to ensure that the canyon will be enjoyed by generations to come.

The story of the Grand Canyon Coalition is a testament to the power of ordinary citizens to make a difference. It is a story of courage, determination, and perseverance. It is a story that inspires us all to fight for what we believe in.

Coal River: How a Few Brave Americans Took On a Powerful Company - and the Federal Government - to Save The Land They Love

by Michael Shnayerson

4.3 out of 5