Trump administration targets national monuments for energy development

GRAND CANYON, AZ (AZFamily) — A new report came out Thursday showing the trump administration is targeting national monuments to increase energy development. A monument created by former President Biden in 2023 just south of the Grand Canyon is on that list.

The land just south of the Grand Canyon is sacred to many tribes across the southwest. Tribes and conservation groups have already been fighting a mine that was grandfathered in on this land. Now, with the Trump administration eyeing this land, they’re worried more mines could soon pop up.

In 2023, former President Joe Biden declared the land about 10 miles south of the Grand Canyon a new national monument after urging from 13 tribes across the southwest. Aaron Paul with the Grand Canyon Trust said with the monument, the land is protected.

“The Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni National Monument was created to protect about 1,000,000 acres around the Grand Canyon,” Paul said.

However, because of a 150-year-old mining law, a uranium mine was grandfathered in and is currently mining inside the monument.

The Havasupai tribe has been fighting this mine for decades. The land is used for ceremonies and healing herbs.

“The most fundamental problems with uranium mine around uranium mining around the Grand Canyon is simply that the tribes have objected to it, and I think that deserves respect,” Paul said.

Now, a report from the Washington Post shows the U.S. Interior Department is looking to remove protections for 6 national monuments across the West to for mining or oil. This includes the one near the Grand Canyon. The department has not yet released anything official.

Paul said they’re worried more mines like the one already there could be built.

“I think that’s the prime example of the kind of threat that would face this region if this monument did not remain in place,” he said.

Officials with the mine have said they are working closely with the state and following all safety procedures.

However, Paul said, with the traditional plants plus the monument and mine sitting on top of the largest aquifer in the southwest that feeds into the Colorado River, the risk and reward aren’t worth it.

“They mine deep underground, and that puts at risk groundwater aquifers that are essential for people who live near the Grand Canyon,” Paul said. “And particularly for tribes like the Havasupai tribe that rely solely on groundwater.”

He adds organizations like theirs will continue to fight this, and he suggests people call their representatives if they are unhappy with this change.

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