Tribes hope Biden’s Arizona visit means long-sought Grand Canyon monument designation

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Advocates seeking restrictions on mining near Grand Canyon National Park are optimistic about the possibility of the establishment of a new national monument that would preserve the area for generations to come. President Joe Biden’s visit to the region on Tuesday is anticipated to include an announcement of plans for a new national monument, encompassing roughly 1,562 square miles (4,046 square kilometers).

Various tribal representatives from northern Arizona have been invited to join the president’s speech, such as Amelia Flores of the Colorado River Indian Tribes, Navajo President Buu Nygren, and Havasupai Tribal Councilwoman Dianna Sue White Dove Uqualla. Uqualla, who will be part of a blessing performance, expressed concern about uranium extraction, emphasizing its detrimental impact on the environment.

For years, Arizona tribes have been urging the president to create a new national monument called Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni, meaning “where tribes roam” for the Havasupai people and “our footprints” for the Hopi tribe. Despite efforts to protect the land and a 20-year moratorium on new mining claims enacted in 2012, the tension between conservationists and those emphasizing the economic importance of mining has persisted.

A study conducted in 2021 confirmed that most water sources in northern Arizona met federal drinking water standards, despite decades of uranium mining. Although President Barack Obama considered creating a monument in 2017, he faced strong opposition from Republican figures in the state.

Critics of the monument’s establishment argue that it would not address ongoing drought concerns and could hinder efforts to manage forests and wildlife populations. Ranchers near the Arizona-Utah border also worry about losing privately owned land.

Arizona’s political landscape has since evolved, with key Democratic and Independent figures supporting the monument designation. Governor Katie Hobbs has actively encouraged President Biden to proceed with the designation, and a letter she sent in May cited widespread support.

Despite this, opposition remains, especially from mining companies and areas that stand to gain economically from mining. Mohave County Supervisor Buster Johnson has expressed that the monument proposal seems politically motivated and questions the decision to avoid tapping into uranium as it relates to national security.

While no uranium mines are currently operational in Arizona, potential development remains in specific areas. The federal government has stated that nearly a dozen mines might still open within the withdrawn area, as long as their claims were established before 2012.

Following his visit to Arizona, President Biden’s schedule includes stops in Albuquerque to discuss climate change-related job creation, Salt Lake City to mark the first anniversary of the PACT Act providing benefits to veterans exposed to toxic substances, and fundraising events in both cities.

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More about national monument

• Arizona Republic: Tribes hope Biden’s Arizona visit means long-sought Grand Canyon monument designation
• Antiquities Act of 1906
• Grand Canyon National Park
• Colorado River Indian Tribes
• Navajo Nation
• Havasupai Tribe
• U.S. Geological Survey
• Democratic U.S. Rep. Raul Grijalva
• Interior Department
• Republican Governor Doug Ducey
• U.S. President Barack Obama
• U.S. Senator Mark Kelly
• U.S. Senator Kyrsten Sinema
• Mohave County Supervisor Buster Johnson