Latest news with #GrandCanyonTrust
Yahoo
18-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump's ‘Unleash American Energy' order sparks concern about the Grand Canyon national monument
A tourist approaches the precipice June 8, 2009, at the Grand Canyon. Photo by John Moore | Getty Images President Donald Trump's executive order for 'Unleashing American Energy' is sparking concern for the safety of federal lands within national monuments across the U.S., but especially in the Southwest, where Trump has targeted monuments before. During his first term, Trump eliminated environmental protections for two national monuments in Utah by reducing the sizes of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante. The Biden administration restored both in 2021. With Trump's Unleashing American Energy order, the Bear Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments are at risk again because they both hold large critical mineral reserves. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX As part of his executive order, Trump requested an immediate review of all agency actions that could potentially hinder the development of domestic energy resources, focusing on oil, natural gas, coal, hydropower, biofuels, critical minerals and nuclear energy. His order requested that agency heads review all existing regulations, orders, guidance documents, policies, settlements, consent orders and any other agency actions. Trump gave agencies 30 days to create and implement action plans to 'suspend, revise, or rescind all agency actions identified as unduly burdensome.' The Department of the Interior is fulfilling the president's request after Secretary Doug Burgum directed agency staff to 'promptly review all agency actions and submit an action plan' detailing the steps to review and revise all public lands withdrawn under current law. The department's deadline is Feb. 18. The secretarial order does not directly mention national monuments or outline what laws are to be reviewed, but it references 54 U.S.C. 320301 and 43 U.S.C. 1714, which are federal laws related to the Antiquities Act of 1906 and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976. 'It's almost as if they were trying to sneak this by us,' said Tim Peterson, the cultural landscapes director for the Grand Canyon Trust, a nonprofit conservation organization. Peterson said these two laws are significant because the Federal Land Management Act section permits mineral withdrawals administratively, and the Antiquities Act enables presidents to establish national monuments. Peterson said mineral withdrawals remove public lands from mineral entry, which means there can be no new mining claims, oil and gas leasing or geothermal leasing. The secretarial order stated that the department should focus on advancing innovation to improve the United State's energy and critical mineral capacity to provide a reliable, diverse and affordable energy supply for the nation. The order also calls for updating the U.S. Geological Survey's list of critical minerals, including uranium, and developing an action plan to prioritize mapping efforts to identify previously unknown critical mineral deposits. 'It seems to be targeting all presidentially designated national monuments under the Antiquities Act,' said Amber Reimondo, the energy director for the Grand Canyon Trust, noting that both Democratic and Republican presidents have designated national monuments. Arizona has 19 national monuments, including the recently established Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni, which added more protections against mining to the Grand Canyon region. Tribes, conservation groups and state leaders are concerned about the recently established monument and are calling on the Department of the Interior to honor and support it. The orders threaten the Grand Canyon Region in two significant ways: the Obama administration's 2012 mining ban, which is in place for 20 years before it needs to be renewed, and the added protections from Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni—Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument. ' The secretarial order threatens both those layers of protection for the Grand Canyon region that tribes and communities have fought for years to attain,' Reimondo said, and the order threatens them despite the massive support national monuments have. Polling conducted by Grand Canyon Trust shows that over two-thirds of Arizona voters oppose reducing protections for national monuments, and 80% back Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni. In Utah, polling indicates that 71% of voters favor maintaining Bears Ears as a national monument, while 74% support keeping Grand Staircase-Escalante as a national monument. 'Americans love their national monuments and want them to stay protected,' Reimondo said. The newly designated monument was challenged in court when Arizona GOP leaders filed a lawsuit in 2024 to rescind Biden's designation because he did not have the power to do so. A federal judge dismissed the case in January, but the GOP leaders are now looking to the Trump administration to move on their request. Tribes in the region have worked closely with other conservation groups to advocate for the monument's designation in 2023. The monument protects thousands of historical and scientific objects, sacred sites, vital water sources and the ancestral homelands of many Indigenous communities. The lands of Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni include cultural and sacred places of the Havasupai Tribe, Hopi Tribe, Hualapai Tribe, Kaibab Band of Paiute Indians, Las Vegas Paiute Tribe, Moapa Band of Paiutes, Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah, Navajo Nation, San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe, Yavapai-Apache Nation, Pueblo of Zuni and the Colorado River Indian Tribes. 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. Arizona Sens. Ruben Gallego and Mark Kelly sent a joint letter to Burgum sharing the importance of Baaj Nwaavjo and calling on his reassurances that there will not undo Arizona's newest national monument. '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 stated in their joint letter. 'Given the importance of the Monument to Tribal Nations and Communities, our economy, and immense public support, we ask that you reassure Arizonans that Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni National Monument will remain intact for generations to come,' they added. Grand Canyon Trust Executive Director Ethan Aumack stated in a press release that they strongly oppose any efforts to reduce the boundaries of national monuments, as these areas are 'world-class examples of natural and cultural landscapes worthy of protection.' 'Any attempts to roll back protections for national monuments will be challenged in the courts and strongly opposed by the public,' He added. Earthjustice attorney Heidi McIntosh said that the decision to review national monuments highlights the Trump administration's 'narrow-minded insistence' to hand over one of the nation's most valuable resources, public lands, to the mining and oil and gas industries. 'Rather than protecting the cultural treasures, world-renowned fossils, historic places, and one-of-a-kind ecosystems that monuments like Bears Ears, Grand Staircase-Escalante and Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni hold, this administration wants to sell these lands to the highest bidder,' McIntosh said in a statement. 'We stand ready to defend our national monuments alongside the Tribes and local communities who advocated for their creation.' SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Navajo Nation reaches agreement with mining company over uranium ore transport
A view of the Pinyon Plain Mine near the Grand Canyon. The mine has operated since the 1980s but mined its first batch of uranium ore in 2024. Photo by Blake McCord via Grand Canyon Trust After months of negotiation, the Navajo Nation and Energy Fuels Inc. have signed an agreement allowing the transport of uranium ore along federal and state highways throughout the Navajo Nation, with transportation set to resume in February. 'We have a settlement agreement that will allow the Navajo Nation to monitor and inspect the haul trucks and that provides financial compensation for the expenses to improve safety and protect the environment,' Stephen Etsitty, executive director of the Navajo Nation Environmental Protection Agency, said in a press release. The agreement comes nearly six months after Energy Fuels, Inc., voluntarily halted transportation following the company's first transport through the Navajo Nation with little notice to the tribe. The company then entered into negotiations with the Navajo Nation in August 2024 after the tribe condemned their actions. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Energy Fuels President and CEO Mark Chalmers said he is honored that the Navajo Nation is willing to work with the company in good faith to 'address their concerns and ensure that uranium ore transportation through the Navajo Nation will be done safely and respectfully.' The agreement has not been made public, but a press release issued by Energy Fuels outlines some of the details. The mining company said it has agreed to add additional protections and accommodations in addition to the existing U.S. Department of Transportation requirements, which include limiting transportation to specified routes and hours of the day and not transporting on days involving celebrations or public events. The company also said it would follow clear emergency response procedures, abide by notice and reporting requirements, carry additional insurance and give its drivers extra training and qualifications, including obtaining Navajo Nation transport licenses. The company also said it agreed to use state-of-the-art cover systems — instead of the tarps it had previously said it would use — to prevent uranium ore dust from blowing out of transport trucks, establish provisions for escorts and blessings at the discretion of the Navajo Nation, and additional inspection procedures that will enable the Navajo Nation to ensure that all applicable rules and agreements are being satisfied. 'We appreciate the sincere approach the Energy Fuels' negotiation team took with the Navajo Nation,' said Heather Clah, acting attorney general of the Navajo Nation. 'They demonstrated a genuine understanding for the Navajo Nation's and the Navajo People's trauma regarding uranium and engaged as a partner in good faith to build a trusting relationship.' The Navajo Nation stretch of the Pinyon Plain Mine's approved uranium ore transportation route is more than half of the roughly 320-mile journey, with a total of 174 miles traveled on major state routes through Navajo land. 'This agreement isn't just about resolving a conflict; it's a commitment to protecting future generations, respecting Tribal sovereignty and ensuring that all voices are heard and valued,' Gov. Katie Hobbs said in a press release. 'Today marks an important step forward for our communities and shows what is possible through collaboration, partnership, and a shared commitment to public safety,' Hobbs added. 'I'm proud to have brought Energy Fuels and Navajo Nation to the table so they could come to an agreement that addresses the Nation's long-standing concerns and includes enhanced emergency response plans.' As part of the agreement, Energy Fuels committed to transporting up to 10,000 tons of uranium-bearing cleanup materials from abandoned uranium mines across the Navajo Nation. They have also agreed to support the Navajo Nation's transportation safety programs, education, environment, public health and welfare, and local economic development related to uranium issues. Details about the specific type of support were not provided. 'We are proud to be a part of a historic agreement with the Navajo Nation, and we are committed to fulfilling our promises to them,' Chalmers said. 'We hope this agreement marks the beginning of a constructive relationship that restores trust with our neighbors while also paving the way for future collaborations on cleanups and other areas of shared interest.' According to Energy Fuels, the company has safely hauled several hundred thousand tons of uranium ore and other materials along state and federal highways that cross the Navajo Nation between 2007 and 2024, with no incidents resulting in the spillage or release of ore. 'Measures outlined in the agreement provide additional layers of protection for the Navajo and others, beyond the rigorous standards set by the USDOT,' the company stated in a press release. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Judge rejects challenge to national monument near Grand Canyon. Will Trump step in?
A federal judge has rejected a lawsuit by Arizona lawmakers challenging former President Joe Biden's designation of a national monument near the Grand Canyon. The dismissal of a case brought by legislative Republicans and backed by Mohave County shifts attention to Washington, where many on both sides of the issue expect that President Donald Trump may shrink or rescind the Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni – Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument. At issue is the prospect of renewed uranium prospecting in the region northwest of Flagstaff and south of Kanab, Utah. 'We are reviewing this ruling and will likely file an appeal,' Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen said in a written response to questions. 'We are confident this unconstitutional land grab will be reversed, either by the courts or by the Trump Administration.' Trump has a history of downsizing national monuments created by Democratic predecessors, having done so in his first term to the Clinton-designated Grand Staircase-Escalante and the Obama-designated Bears Ears national monuments, both in southern Utah. Biden restored protections in both cases after defeating Trump in 2020. Environmental and tribal groups lauded the decision and said they'll guard against further efforts to undo the land protections. Polling recently released by the Grand Canyon Trust indicated that a substantial majority of Arizonans, including Republicans, favor the monument. 'The public supports this iconic monument and the wisdom of the Tribes who proposed and fought for it,' Center for Biological Diversity Southwest Director Taylor McKinnon said in an email. 'Any further attacks from uranium industry surrogates or opponents of public lands will be wildlife unpopular and meet fierce resistance.' The Native American Rights Fund released a statement saying that tribes including its clients, the Havasupai and Hopi, 'celebrated the court's decision, which maintains protections for a culturally significant region that was taken away from Tribal Nations.' Petersen and then-House Speaker Ben Toma filed the suit against the Biden administration to undo the roughly 1 million-acre monument designation on federal lands north and south of Grand Canyon. They, along with Treasurer Kimberly Yee, Mohave County and the towns of Colorado City and Fredonia, argued that the monument harmed the state and local governments by restricting potential uranium mining revenues and complicating state efforts to develop State Trust Lands in the area. A rancher also joined the case, arguing that the new land protections could jeopardize normal ranch operations such as pond maintenance or tree removals on leased lands. Senior Judge Stephen McNamee of the U.S. District Court of Arizona on Monday ruled that none of the plaintiffs have standing to sue, as only the state's executive branch can sue on behalf of the State Land Department. In ruling against the rancher's claim, he added that the monument designation specifically authorized the continued leasing of grazing rights on the land. The governor and attorney general, both Democrats, had declined to join the lawsuit and said the lawmakers overstepped their authority. Biden traveled to Red Butte, some 10 miles from the south entrance to Grand Canyon National Park, to announce the new monument in the summer of 2023. The protections he imposed through his powers under the Antiquities Act were meant to honor numerous tribes' links to the area and to make permanent a 20-year moratorium against uranium mining that the Obama administration had imposed on roughly the same lands in 2012. At that ceremony, 6 miles from a uranium mine approved previously and not subject to the new protections, Havasupai officials rejoiced. Their reservation, at the edge of Grand Canyon, includes springs they fear may become contaminated by groundwater flowing from mined areas. Energy Fuels Resources, the company that operates the Pinyon Plain Mine, has said that isn't a risk, while U.S. Geological Survey researchers have said they need more information about groundwater flows. When the Grand Canyon Trust released its poll findings this month, Havasupai Chairwoman Bernadine Jones said she had heard rumblings of the incoming Trump administration's plans and feared they would include a monument reversal and renewed uranium prospecting. The protected lands are where her ancestors lived in winter before returning to the canyon for summer, she said, and remain sacred. Coconino County contains the largest share of the new monument, and Patrice Horstman, vice-chair of the Board of Supervisors, said it strongly supports the monument. The county and its population base in Flagstaff rely on tourism and outdoor recreation, she said. 'This monument is an asset to our economy and it protects our lands and waters.' Energy Fuels, the uranium miner, was not a party to the lawsuit but did criticize Biden's action in 2023 as counter to another of its stated goals: producing carbon-free energy. On Wednesday, company spokesman Curtis Moore said Energy Fuels 'supports protecting public lands where appropriate' but that monument designations with seemingly arbitrary boundaries that 'expand and shrink and expand once again' depending on who is president, make it difficult for companies to plan investments or for agencies to manage the land. 'The uranium mining we perform is the first step in the nuclear fuel cycle for zero-emission baseload energy that appears to be the resource of choice to support growing energy needs, including the staggering amount of energy expected to be needed for data centers, AI, and other technologies,' Moore said. 'Resource development takes investment and long-term planning, so we are directly impacted by constant changes.' Mohave County contains about 350,000 acres of the monument and had argued that Biden overreached in designating the monument, possibly costing the county jobs and tax revenues from mine development. County Supervisor Travis Lingenfelter said a judge's ruling that plaintiffs lack standing 'is the most political way for a judge to avoid taking on an issue.' The plaintiffs are reviewing their options, Lingenfelter said. 'The goal has always been to get this issue concerning abuse of the Antiquities Act in front of the U.S. Supreme Court for their review,' he said, 'so I would not rule out seeing this appealed by the Arizona Legislature, Mohave County, and affected northern Arizona communities.' Brandon Loomis covers environmental and climate issues for The Arizona Republic and Reach him at Environmental coverage on and in The Arizona Republic is supported by a grant from the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust. Sign up for AZ Climate, our weekly environment newsletter, and follow The Republic environmental reporting team at and @azcenvironment on Facebook and Instagram. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Judge rejects challenge to national monument near Grand Canyon
USA Today
29-01-2025
- Politics
- USA Today
Judge rejects challenge to national monument near Grand Canyon. Will Trump step in?
A federal judge has rejected a lawsuit by Arizona lawmakers challenging former President Joe Biden's designation of a national monument near the Grand Canyon. The dismissal of a case brought by legislative Republicans and backed by Mohave County shifts attention to Washington, where many on both sides of the issue expect that President Donald Trump may shrink or rescind the Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni – Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument. At issue is the prospect of renewed uranium prospecting in the region northwest of Flagstaff and south of Kanab, Utah. 'We are reviewing this ruling and will likely file an appeal,' Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen said in a written response to questions. 'We are confident this unconstitutional land grab will be reversed, either by the courts or by the Trump Administration.' Trump has a history of downsizing national monuments created by Democratic predecessors, having done so in his first term to the Clinton-designated Grand Staircase-Escalante and the Obama-designated Bears Ears national monuments, both in southern Utah. Biden restored protections in both cases after defeating Trump in 2020. Environmental and tribal groups lauded the decision and said they'll guard against further efforts to undo the land protections. Polling recently released by the Grand Canyon Trust indicated that a substantial majority of Arizonans, including Republicans, favor the monument. 'The public supports this iconic monument and the wisdom of the Tribes who proposed and fought for it,' Center for Biological Diversity Southwest Director Taylor McKinnon said in an email. 'Any further attacks from uranium industry surrogates or opponents of public lands will be wildlife unpopular and meet fierce resistance.' The Native American Rights Fund released a statement saying that tribes including its clients, the Havasupai and Hopi, 'celebrated the court's decision, which maintains protections for a culturally significant region that was taken away from Tribal Nations.' Lawmakers are joined by county, rancher Petersen and then-House Speaker Ben Toma filed the suit against the Biden administration to undo the roughly 1 million-acre monument designation on federal lands north and south of Grand Canyon. They, along with Treasurer Kimberly Yee, Mohave County and the towns of Colorado City and Fredonia, argued that the monument harmed the state and local governments by restricting potential uranium mining revenues and complicating state efforts to develop State Trust Lands in the area. A rancher also joined the case, arguing that the new land protections could jeopardize normal ranch operations such as pond maintenance or tree removals on leased lands. Senior Judge Stephen McNamee of the U.S. District Court of Arizona on Monday ruled that none of the plaintiffs have standing to sue, as only the state's executive branch can sue on behalf of the State Land Department. In ruling against the rancher's claim, he added that the monument designation specifically authorized the continued leasing of grazing rights on the land. The governor and attorney general, both Democrats, had declined to join the lawsuit and said the lawmakers overstepped their authority. Biden traveled to Red Butte, some 10 miles from the south entrance to Grand Canyon National Park, to announce the new monument in the summer of 2023. The protections he imposed through his powers under the Antiquities Act were meant to honor numerous tribes' links to the area and to make permanent a 20-year moratorium against uranium mining that the Obama administration had imposed on roughly the same lands in 2012. At that ceremony, 6 miles from a uranium mine approved previously and not subject to the new protections, Havasupai officials rejoiced. Their reservation, at the edge of Grand Canyon, includes springs they fear may become contaminated by groundwater flowing from mined areas. Tribes fear contamination of land, water Energy Fuels Resources, the company that operates the Pinyon Plain Mine, has said that isn't a risk, while U.S. Geological Survey researchers have said they need more information about groundwater flows. When the Grand Canyon Trust released its poll findings this month, Havasupai Chairwoman Bernadine Jones said she had heard rumblings of the incoming Trump administration's plans and feared they would include a monument reversal and renewed uranium prospecting. The protected lands are where her ancestors lived in winter before returning to the canyon for summer, she said, and remain sacred. Coconino County contains the largest share of the new monument, and Patrice Horstman, vice-chair of the Board of Supervisors, said it strongly supports the monument. The county and its population base in Flagstaff rely on tourism and outdoor recreation, she said. 'This monument is an asset to our economy and it protects our lands and waters.' Energy Fuels, the uranium miner, was not a party to the lawsuit but did criticize Biden's action in 2023 as counter to another of its stated goals: producing carbon-free energy. On Wednesday, company spokesman Curtis Moore said Energy Fuels 'supports protecting public lands where appropriate' but that monument designations with seemingly arbitrary boundaries that 'expand and shrink and expand once again' depending on who is president, make it difficult for companies to plan investments or for agencies to manage the land. 'The uranium mining we perform is the first step in the nuclear fuel cycle for zero-emission baseload energy that appears to be the resource of choice to support growing energy needs, including the staggering amount of energy expected to be needed for data centers, AI, and other technologies,' Moore said. 'Resource development takes investment and long-term planning, so we are directly impacted by constant changes.' Mohave County contains about 350,000 acres of the monument and had argued that Biden overreached in designating the monument, possibly costing the county jobs and tax revenues from mine development. County Supervisor Travis Lingenfelter said a judge's ruling that plaintiffs lack standing 'is the most political way for a judge to avoid taking on an issue.' The plaintiffs are reviewing their options, Lingenfelter said. 'The goal has always been to get this issue concerning abuse of the Antiquities Act in front of the U.S. Supreme Court for their review,' he said, 'so I would not rule out seeing this appealed by the Arizona Legislature, Mohave County, and affected northern Arizona communities.' Brandon Loomis covers environmental and climate issues for The Arizona Republic and Reach him at Environmental coverage on and in The Arizona Republic is supported by a grant from the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust. Sign up for AZ Climate, our weekly environment newsletter, and follow The Republic environmental reporting team at and @azcenvironment on Facebook and Instagram.
