U.S. Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT) released the following statement in response to President Biden’s announcement to designate land near the Grand Canyon as a national monument, which will have detrimental impacts Utah’s miners and ranchers:
“National monuments have become a political football tossed back and forth as presidential administrations change. President Biden’s proclamation of 1.1 million acres around the Grand Canyon as a national monument continues the cycle of Antiquities Act abuse by the Executive Branch. Although the monument would be entirely in Arizona, it will be detrimental to ranchers in southern Utah. Ranchers in Washington and Kane Counties, who graze their cattle on the public lands on the Arizona Strip, will be faced with burdensome restrictions or be prevented from using the land altogether.
“The Arizona Strip is one of the most productive uranium mining districts in the country. By eliminating this important source of uranium, President Biden has increased both our dependence on Russia and China and our ultimate carbon footprint, while decreasing our energy efficiency. It is disappointing that with this proclamation, the President has once again ignored the concerns of those who live closest to the land.”
