Mojave County supervisors have long opposed a ban on mining near the Grand Canyon and a 20-year moratorium enacted in 2012 prohibiting new uranium mining near the Grand Canyon. I was. But the proposed designation of his 1.1 million acres as a national monument could make that ban permanent.

District 3 supervisor Buster Johnson explained that the proposed new national monument designation at the Grand Canyon is a “horrible idea.”

“Arizona was built on mining,” Johnson said. “They rob uranium mining, they rob all mining.”

Senator Kirsten Cinema (I-Phoenix) wrote in a press release that she, fellow legislators, and tribal leaders across the state are seeking to create a new national monument under the Relics Act of 1906. increase. National monuments on national land if they contain historic buildings or scientific interest.

Members of the Havasupai, Hualapai, Hopi, Kaibab Paiute, San Juan Southern Paiute, and Colorado River Indian Tribes also support the monument.

Cinema and US Congressman Raul Grijalva (D-Tucson) will introduce legislation outlining details of the proposed monument, according to a news release. “The Grand Canyon is one of Arizona’s many natural treasures and an important part of our history and heritage. , and worked with Tribe and other partners,” Cinema wrote.

Johnson said he hopes the oversight board will address the proposal in the future. “Keep Mojave County out of there,” he said.

Mr Johnson has previously opposed a 20-year moratorium, saying it would cost more than $20 billion if new uranium mines remained banned. He also said mining standards have improved from before and the mines will be outside Grand Canyon National Park. He said it was important to extract minerals from the United States instead of importing them from other countries.

Travis Lingenfelter, chairman of the Mojave County Board of Supervisors, said a designation as a national monument could have a negative economic impact on the area. He said environmental impact statements are a more appropriate way to determine impacts on humans and the environment.

“By using the Relics Act, all stakeholders will not be able to provide feedback or comments on the designation,” said Lingenfelter. In many cases, this is because the hasty designation of such large areas as new natural monuments creates “sustained poverty” and harms long-standing economic sectors such as agriculture and ranching. It is important.

“The Antiquities Act was created to quickly protect objects of historical or scientific importance and to prevent antiquities from being looted in the early 1900s,” Lingenfelter said. It is not a matter of the proposed designation.”