In a recent legal decision, a federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit from prominent Arizona Republicans aimed at revoking the Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni – Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument’s designation. This monument, spanning nearly 900,000 acres, was established by President Joe Biden in 2023, a move some GOP lawmakers labeled as a “land grab.”
The legal challenge was initiated by several key Republican figures, alongside Mohave County and the towns of Colorado City and Fredonia. Their lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court, argued that President Biden exceeded his authority under the Antiquities Act of 1906, which is intended to safeguard cultural and natural resources on federal land.
A central claim of the plaintiffs was that the monument’s establishment restricts mining activities, potentially leading to decreased tax revenue and fewer job opportunities. However, Judge Stephen McNamee concluded that the Arizona Legislature lacked the standing to sue, as it cannot represent the state in such matters.
This monument, located near Grand Canyon National Park, encompasses numerous sites of cultural and spiritual significance to various tribal nations. It also includes crucial water resources, and its designation forbids new uranium mining in the vicinity.
The possibility of an appeal by the Legislature remains uncertain. Meanwhile, Heidi McIntosh, managing attorney for Earthjustice’s Rocky Mountain Office, has expressed the organization’s commitment to defending the monument. She stated, “We’ve been privileged to follow the lead of 11 Tribal Nations with deep cultural ties to the monument, and we will continue fighting to protect it from uranium mining and other threats so that future generations can benefit from this irreplaceable landscape.”
For more detailed information, the original lawsuit document can be found here. Additionally, further insights into the monument’s significance to tribal leaders are available here.
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