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Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
National monument supporters rally to defend public lands from Trump cutbacks
MARANA — On a warm Saturday morning, more than 100 protesters gathered near Waterman Peak in the Ironwood Forest National Monument to voice their support for public lands protections. At the same time over 350 miles to the north, public lands advocates gathered at the state's most recently created national monument, Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni-Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon, holding a banner reading 'Protect the Sacred.' The rallies were part of a nationwide 'Day of Action' on June 7, in response to a push from the Trump administration to increase domestic critical mineral production on public lands after declaring a national energy emergency. Through executive order, the president has called on the Department of Interior to review public lands that have been blocked from mining in the past, and the Department of Justice has released a legal opinion finding that presidents have the authority to reduce the size of national monuments designated by former presidents. In April, the Washington Post reported that Interior Department officials were actively considering scaling back protections for six national monuments in the West, including two in Arizona, Ironwood Forest and Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni. The Department of Interior did not immediately respond to a request for comments. But the move would be consistent with actions taken by the first Trump administration, and one that public lands advocates have been anticipating since the president took office. With the Silver Bell Mine visible in the distance, speakers from the Friends of Ironwood Forest, the Wilderness Society and the Pima County Board of Supervisors called on the public to contact their elected officials to voice their support for protecting the conserved lands. 'Hopefully enough people are calling enough congressmen that one of them will grow a spine and stand up,' said Tom Hannagan, president of the Friends of Ironwood Forest, a nonprofit organization that advocates for the permanent protection of the national monument. Public lands: 'Fewer and smaller monuments': Republicans seek to limit the use of Antiquities Act The rallies took place on the same weekend as the 119th anniversary of the Antiquities Act of 1906, the law that gives the president the power to protect swaths of public lands by designating them as national monuments. While the Supreme Court has affirmed the president's power to create national monuments, it is unclear whether the president has the unilateral authority to revoke or reduce a national monument created by a previous administration. On June 10, the Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel released a legal opinion concluding that the president has the power to alter or eliminate national monuments contrary to a previous legal opinion issued in 1938. Public lands advocates say the courts have disagreed. 'The Trump administration can come to whatever conclusion it likes, but the courts have upheld monuments established under the Antiquities Act for over a century," said Jennifer Rokala, executive director of Center for Western Priorities, a nonpartisan conservation organization, in a news release. "This opinion is just that, an opinion. It does not mean presidents can legally shrink or eliminate monuments at will." 'This opinion goes so far as to claim the public doesn't support the preservation of public lands as national monuments, which we know from over a decade of polling is not true," Rokala said. "In fact, public support for national monument designations has grown over the past 10 years. Once again the Trump administration finds itself on the wrong side of history and at odds with Western voters.' In December 2017, Trump announced plans to decrease the size of two national monuments in southern Utah, Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments, which hold uranium and coal deposits respectively. The order was the largest reduction in national monument protections in U.S. history, and it was immediately challenged in court through multiple lawsuits brought by environmental advocacy groups and tribal nations. Before the cases could be settled, President Joe Biden took office and restored both monuments to their previous sizes. In 2023, President Biden designated almost a million acres near the Grand Canyon as Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni-Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument, protecting it from new uranium mining projects and other natural resource extraction at the urge of multiple tribal groups that hold the land sacred. A 2024 poll by the Grand Canyon Trust found that 80% of Arizona voters support the monument's designation. 'Here we are back again with the pendulum swinging back towards extractive industries and away from conservation and public lands protections,' said Mike Quigley, Arizona State Director of The Wilderness Society, one of the groups that sued the Trump Administration in 2017. 'Ancestral Footprints': What to know about Arizona's newest national monument Created by President Bill Clinton in 2000, the Ironwood Forest National Monument spans 129,000 acres of Sonoran Desert landscape. Named after one of the longest living trees in the region, the monument is also home to rich biodiversity and historical sites over 5,000 years old. It also surrounds the Silver Bell Mine, which has produced copper and other minerals for over 70 years. In 2017, ASARCO, the mining company that operates the Silver Bell Mine adjacent to the monument, submitted a letter to the Department of Interior in response to an executive order issued by Trump during his first term. The 2017 executive order called for a review of national monuments created after 1996. In their letter, ASARCO advocated for the Ironwood Forest National Monument's boundaries to be adjusted to allow for increased mining activity. The company owned 880 acres of fee lands and over 4,000 acres of unpatented mining claims that it could not develop because of the designation, according to the letter. 'The (Ironwood Forest National Monument) is nothing but a disincentive for continued investment in this mine and in the state and local economy,' stated the letter. However environmental advocates argue that the public wants to see the land preserved and undeveloped. This year, officials from Pima County, Tucson and Marana issued proclamations recognizing June 9, 2025, as 'Ironwood Forest Day' to celebrate the monument's 25th anniversary. On May 20, the Pima County Board of Supervisors reaffirmed their support for Ironwood Forest National Monument by voting to oppose any reduction proposed by the Trump Administration for natural resource extraction. Want to read more about public lands? Sign up for AZ Climate, The Republic's weekly environment newsletter. At the public lands rally, protesters carried homemade signs reading 'Hands Off Our Public Land' and 'We Love Ironwood' to show their support for the monument's boundaries before any official is taken by the Trump administration. 'We're hoping that demonstrations like today and the resolutions that were passed this week by Pima County, the city of Tucson, and the town of Marana are indicators to our congressional delegation, but also to the Trump administration, that Southern Arizonans value this place as a national monument,' said Quigley of the Wilderness Society. If the administration moves ahead with plans to reduce the monument, Tom Hannagan of Friends of Ironwood Forest said they are ready to take legal action. 'We'll take them to court immediately, if they actually attempt to do anything,' said Hannagan. John Leos covers environmental issues for The Arizona Republic and azcentral. Send tips or questions to Environmental coverage on and in The Arizona Republic is supported by a grant from the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust. Follow The Republic environmental reporting team at and @azcenvironment on Facebook and Instagram. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Supporters of Arizona monuments rally against Trump cutback proposal
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Outdoor enthusiasts rally at Arizona Capitol to defend public lands from federal cuts
A sign made by an attendee at a rally in support of public lands at the Arizona Capitol on March 27, 2025. Photo by Jerod MacDonald-Evoy | Arizona Mirror Hunters, anglers, birders and more showed up at the Arizona Capitol on Thursday afternoon to rally in support of public lands in the face of a push by President Donald Trump and Arizona GOP lawmakers to fundamentally change how public lands are managed and used. 'We are all on the same footing. There is nothing more democratic than our public lands,' the appropriately named Land Tawney, who co-chairs the Montana-based conservation group American Hunters and Anglers Action Network, said to the gathered crowd. Tawney, a veteran conservation advocate, joined with local organizations to rally support for the use of public lands as the federal agencies that oversee them have been the target of drastic cuts under Trump and Elon Musk. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX In February, at least 1,000 park service employees were laid off as the Department of Government Efficiency — the name of Musk's effort to slash federal agencies, though it's not an official government department — ordered the layoffs of tens of thousands of federal workers. The result was Arizona visitor centers having reduced hours, tours of attractions being cancelled, habitat restoration being ceased and much more. 'These places mean something to people because this is where they find their solace,' Tawney said, sharing his experience fishing in the Salt River. Arizona gets a considerable amount of tourism money from its public lands. A 2022 report found that more than 10 million people visited the state's national parks and spent over $1 billion, helping support over 16,000 jobs. Under the administration of President Joe Biden, land near the Grand Canyon was designated as the Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni – Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument. The area, which is sacred to multiple Native American tribes, has also been the subject of intense debate as groups have sought to use it for uranium mining and other uses. A federal judge recently dismissed a lawsuit brought by Arizona GOP lawmakers aiming to remove the designation, though those lawmakers are now betting on Trump to reverse Biden's designation. 'We still try to live the ancient life I was taught when I was young,' Carletta Tilousi, a Havasupai tribal leader who has worked and lived in the Havasupai village at the bottom of the Grand Canyon her whole life, told the crowd. 'The threat of water contamination seems inevitable.' Tilousi, like many of the other speakers at the rally Thursday, brought up the late Congressman Raúl Grijalva, who had introduced legislation multiple times to try to protect areas like the Supai Village and Oak Flats. 'We are in a time where our public lands are going to be attacked,' Tilousi said. 'It is a very scary time right now, but I have faith.' Speakers also stressed that public lands are non-partisan, bringing up the history of Arizona politicians on both sides of the aisle that have supported conservation efforts. Jason Costello, the CEO and founder of Canyon Coolers, said he has been labeled both a 'Trumper' and a 'libtard,' but has been a registered independent and doesn't see the outdoor spaces as a left or right issue. 'Some of the greatest champions of public lands come from across the political spectrum,' Costello said, mentioning Arizona politicians like Barry Goldwater, John McCain and Mo Udall as examples. 'These leaders understood that public lands are not a Republican or Democrat issue, they are an American issue,' he said. Costello also brought up local legislation by Sen. Mark Finchem, R-Prescott, that would make any private sale of land to the federal government require the consent of legislature and governor beforehand, remarking that private land owners can sell their property to oil, gas and anyone else at their leisure. That legislation appears to have stalled in committee and has not moved to the full Senate for consideration. Tawney ended the rally with a call to those in attendance to spend time in their public lands and to get in touch with their elected officials to urge them to protect them. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Axios
19-02-2025
- Politics
- Axios
National park layoffs hit Grand Canyon
The Trump administration's push to downsize the federal workforce has already reached Arizona's most popular national park, Axios has learned. Why it matters: Arizona has 22 national parks, monuments and recreation areas, including the Grand Canyon, one of the most visited national parks in the U.S. and a source of great pride for the state. National park tourism contributed $1.2 billion to the state's economy in 2023, according to a federal report released last year. Driving the news: At least 10 National Park Service employees stationed at the Grand Canyon have been laid off, Bill Wade, executive director of the Association of National Park Rangers, told Axios. The park service has not provided an official count of affected employees or their positions, but a spokesperson for the Grand Canyon on Tuesday told ABC15 the workers laid off were "vital" to park operations and are appealing to try to keep their jobs. Zoom in: Four employees who worked the south entrance of the Grand Canyon were let go, the Washington Post reported, leading to wait times last weekend that were twice as long as usual . Other employees who'd been fired were tasked with replacing a 12.5-mile pipeline that provides water to South Rim facilities, per the Post. The current line has experienced 85 major breaks since 2010, according to the park's website. The big picture: The Trump administration cut about 1,000 National Park Service and 3,400 Forest Service positions nationwide in the past week. Threat level: The Association of National Park Rangers warned the cuts could lead to slower rescue efforts, park closures, reduced hours and educational programs, and more litter. "If a visitor suffers a medical emergency while hiking in Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona, ranger response could be delayed," association president Rick Mossman said in a statement. What we're watching: Arizona U.S. Sens. Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego penned a letter to U.S. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum last week asking the administration to commit to protecting Arizona's newest national monument, Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni — Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument. Former President Biden established the monument in 2023 at the behest of tribal and local leaders who wanted the 900,000 acres surrounding the Grand Canyon protected from mining and other development. Yes, but: State GOP lawmakers have tried to undo the monument designation, so far unsuccessfully, claiming the ban on uranium mining negatively impacts Arizona's revenue potential. The bottom line:"Tribes and Arizona communities deserve to move on with the management planning process for this National Monument rather than worry that there may be attempts to remove it," the senators wrote.
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
After court loss, GOP targets Grand Canyon monument through Trump
Senate President Warren Petersen on Jan. 13, 2025. Photo by Jerod MacDonald-Evoy | Arizona Mirror A top Arizona Republican is hoping the Trump administration will do what a federal court wouldn't: overturn a national monument protecting lands around the Grand Canyon so that mining companies can extract uranium and other valuable minerals from the land. Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen sent a letter to the U.S. Department of the Interior on Feb. 7 requesting a meeting with Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum to discuss ending the 'government overreach' of the national monument and ban on uranium mining in the area. At issue is the Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni – Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument, which President Joe Biden created in 2023. Petersen and Ben Toma, who was at the time the speaker of the state House of Representatives, sued to have the designation revoked. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The GOP's lawsuit argued that Biden did not have the power to create the monument, which spans 917,618 acres the federal government already managed. They also claimed it harms both the state and local communities by permanently barring uranium mining — limiting the state's potential future revenue — and complicating land development. On Jan. 27, Judge Stephen McNamee ruled that the Arizona Legislature and the other plaintiffs did not have standing to sue and dismissed the case. The Grand Canyon is the ancestral homeland of multiple tribal nations across the Southwest, and tribes still rely on the canyon for natural and cultural resources that are significant and sacred to their communities. The monument protects thousands of historical and scientific objects, sacred sites, vital water sources and the ancestral homelands of many Indigenous communities. The monument's name comes from the Indigenous names the Havasupai and Hopi gave to the area. In the Havasupai language, Baaj Nwaavjo means 'where Indigenous peoples roam,' while I'tah Kukveni means 'our ancestral footprints' in the Hopi language. The monument restricts new mining within the area, but any mining rights in place before the designation have not been impacted. Petersen called the Biden administration's designation of Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni a 'land grab,' and said keeping it in place contributes to high energy costs and the United States' reliance on foreign powers. 'Ending the federal government's hold of this piece of land falls in line with the Trump Administration's goals of energy independence, job creation, and lower costs for Americans,' he said in a written statement. Petersen said that government scientists believe that there is more than 300 million pounds of uranium is buried near the Grand Canyon. 'The energy that could be produced from this mineral is astronomical,' he said. 'I look forward to working with Secretary Burgum on this matter of importance for Arizona and the entire nation,' he added. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
10-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
AZ Senate leader urges Burgum to reverse Biden-Obama 'land grabs' on uranium sites
EXCLUSIVE: Arizona's Senate president will urge Interior Secretary Doug Burgum to undo former President Joe Biden's "land grab" in the Grand Canyon State that he said wrongly cordoned off nearly 1 million acres in the state for future energy exploration. State Sen. Warren Petersen, R-Gilbert, said in a letter to President Donald Trump's new Cabinet official – and obtained by Fox News Digital – that he will take swift and sweeping actions like undoing certain national monument designations to "Make America Energy Dominant Again." "On his first day in office, President Trump directed you and the rest of his cabinet to immediately identify and rescind all agency actions that impose an undue burden on the development of domestic energy resources like critical minerals and nuclear energy resources," Petersen wrote. Biden's proclamation making 900,000 acres near the Grand Canyon the "Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni" or "Ancestral Footprints National Monument" nixed any exploration of what scientists believe is more than 300 million pounds of uranium, according to Petersen. Energy Secretary Wright Issues Day-1 Orders Targeting Spr, Nuke Stockpile, More Undoing that "land grab" would both make the U.S. less reliant on foreign uranium and be a potential energy source breakthrough. Read On The Fox News App Notably, during Trump's first administration, Attorney General Jeff Sessions looked into allegations of a "racketeering scheme" involving Russian entities trying to forward Moscow's energy goals within the U.S., in relation to the sale of the company Uranium One to Russian energy giant Rosatom – in what Trump called the "Real Russia Story" of the 2016 election cycle. In 2017, Hillary Clinton maintained allegations of Clinton or Clinton Foundation involvement in the Uranium One situation were "debunked repeatedly." According to the left-wing Center for American Progress, the Biden administration issued protections for 28 million acres in Alaska to keep them from the reach of oil and gas interests, as well as 625 million marine acres along coastlines for similar reasons. "Virtually all of the uranium used in America comes from foreign powers," Petersen wrote, adding that former President Barack Obama also enacted a ban on domestic uranium mining during his term. "President Biden's action made this prohibition permanent," he said. Alaskans Launch Group Highlighting How Us Can Be Strengthened Via The Last Frontier In 2018, the Supreme Court declined to hear a case in which the Ninth Circuit ruled against the GOP and mining interests as they hoped to nix the ban – announced by then-Interior Secretary Kenneth Salazar as a block on new mining on federal lands near the Grand Canyon for 20 years. Petersen estimated the uranium beneath Ancestral Footprints is equivalent to 13 billion barrels of oil in an area the size of Rhode Island – and that he and other Arizona officials have fought such "land grabs" for more than a decade. As leader of Arizona's upper chamber, Petersen said the feds already own nearly half of the land in his state. The newest national monument does nothing to protect the Grand Canyon, as critics reportedly claimed. Included among the justifications for the new monument, he said, was the protection of the northern grasshopper mouse, which can reportedly carry fleas infected with the plague. Petersen told Fox News Digital on Monday that the previous administration "trashed the Constitution to steal land and critical resources from Arizonans" and that he led the fight against such "generational theft" from the people of Arizona. "I look forward to working with the Trump Administration to reverse the rampant federal overreach and allow Arizona to regain control over its Tenth Amendment rights." "We know President Trump and Secretary Burgum will help make Arizona great again as our state and nation heal from the unconstitutional onslaught of the previous administration."Original article source: AZ Senate leader urges Burgum to reverse Biden-Obama 'land grabs' on uranium sites
