A national monument declaration would forever ban mining on more than 1,100,000 acres of land around the national park.
Two former superintendents of Grand Canyon National Park have asked the Biden administration to move forward with an area national monument that would honor the legacy of various tribes in the region.
Rob Arnberger who served in the late 1990s and Steve Martin who served in the early 2000s joined in calling on the administration to declare Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni Grand Canyon National Monument.
Creating the new monument would protect more than 1,100,000 acres of land around Grand Canyon National Park. That would permanently ban any mining in the area. A 20-year ban of mining is set to expire in 2032.
The former superintendents said the tribes are the original stewards of the land. And they told the Biden administration designating the monument would not only protect added land around the park but also help to further protect the park itself.
