President Joe Biden Establishes New National Monument to Protect Grand Canyon Area from Mining and Development

President Joe Biden announced on Tuesday the establishment of a new national monument, Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni — Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument, to protect nearly 1 million acres of federal lands adjacent to Grand Canyon National Park from uranium mining and other development.

The proclamation, which will effectively ban any new uranium and other hard-rock mining leases in the area, is Biden’s fifth national monument designation as president and will advance the administration’s goal of protecting 30% of the nation’s lands and waters by 2030.

The new national monument is meant to preserve the ancestral land that is sacred to several Native American tribes in the area, including the Havasupai and Hopi. It will also protect more than 3,000 mining leases that existed before 2012, when a 20-year pause on new mining leases was put in place.

The Biden administration has been working to protect public lands and waters from development and exploitation, and this new national monument is a major step in that direction. The area is home to a variety of wildlife, including bighorn sheep, elk, and bald eagles, and is a popular destination for hikers and outdoor enthusiasts.

The new national monument will help to protect the area’s natural beauty and cultural heritage for generations to come. It is a major victory for conservationists and Native American tribes, who have long sought to protect the area from development.