Biden will announce a historic Grand Canyon monument designation during his Arizona visit

During his visit to Arizona on Tuesday, President Joe Biden is set to make a formal declaration of a national monument for the broader Grand Canyon area, fulfilling a dream held for decades by Native American tribes and environmentalists to protect the land.

Biden’s announcement will reveal plans to designate around 1,562 square miles (4,046 square kilometers) just outside Grand Canyon National Park as a national monument. This news was confirmed by national climate adviser Ali Zaidi, and the designation will be the president’s fifth monument declaration.

The president has been urged by Arizona’s tribes to invoke the Antiquities Act of 1906 to establish the new national monument, called Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni, meaning “where tribes roam” in the language of the Havasupai people, and translating to “our footprints” for the Hopi tribe.

For years, tribes and environmental advocates have endeavored to shield the land north and south of Grand Canyon National Park, contrasting with Republican politicians and mining interests who emphasize economic gains and link mining to national security concerns.

The U.S. Interior Secretary, Deb Haaland, characterized the designation as heralding a “new era” of cooperation and guardianship with Native tribes. Haaland emphasized that this move will support indigenous people’s continued access to the area for religious, hunting, and gathering purposes and will safeguard historical and scientific interests.

Upon his Monday arrival at Grand Canyon National Park Airport, Biden was welcomed by Democratic representatives Raúl Grijalva and Ruben Gallego. Grijalva, who is on the House Natural Resources Committee, has repeatedly sought to establish the monument through legislation.

Biden’s speech location will be situated between Pinyon Plain Mine, an under-development site, and Red Butte, an area of cultural significance to the Havasupai and Hopi tribes. Tribal representatives from northern Arizona, including leaders of the Yavapai-Apache Nation, Colorado River Indian Tribes, Navajo, and Havasupai Tribal Council, are invited to the president’s address.

The designation does not affect existing mining claims but surrounds about 1.3% of the country’s identified uranium reserves. While mining companies and specific areas that could profit from mining oppose the proposal, others, including Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs, Sen. Mark Kelly, and independent Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, support it.

Opponents, such as Mohave County supervisor Buster Johnson, argue that the proposal is politically motivated and doesn’t address issues like drought or forest thinning. But proponents emphasize environmental and cultural protection.

No uranium mines are currently operational in Arizona, but the designation does not impact the potential opening of mines with established claims before 2012.

Following his Arizona visit, President Biden will travel to Albuquerque and Salt Lake City, discussing new job opportunities through fighting climate change and marking the anniversary of the PACT Act, which aids veterans exposed to toxic substances. He will also conduct reelection fundraisers in both cities.

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