Almost 1 million acres of land near the Grand Canyon will now be protected from mining and extraction as part of the country’s newest national monument.

The rumored new national monument near the Grand Canyon was made a reality by President Biden on Tuesday, reports Debra Utacia Krol in Arizona Republic. The new monument encompasses lands sacred to the local Havasu 'Baaja tribe and will be called Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni – Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument.
“These are places of prayer for the Havasupai, who have long fought to regain some control over the places and to protect them from overuse and mineral extraction,” Krol adds. Yet the group has long been barred from stewarding the land. “The lands they once held and cared for were open to anybody, including mineral hunters and recreationists. Several mineral claims were established, as were campgrounds, forest roads and visitor infrastructure.”
Since the U.S. government first appropriated the land, the tribe continued to fight for its protection, advocating for a national monument that would prevent future mining operations. “Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, a member of the Laguna Pueblo, said during a press call Monday that the new Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni – Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument would rectify an injustice committed against Native peoples in the area.”
Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni is President Biden’s fifth national monument, joining the Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument in Illinois and Mississippi, the Castner Range National Monument in Texas, Avi Kwa Ame National Monument in Nevada, and the Camp Hale-Continental Divide National Monument in Colorado.
FULL STORY: President Biden announced new monument at Red Butte. Here's why it is sacred to tribes

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

DOT Officially Cancels California High-Speed Rail Funding
The Trump administration has repeatedly taken aim at the LA-to-Bay Area rail project, blaming Democratic leaders for cost overruns and delays.

Legislators Push Back Against ‘Rent-Setting’ Software
In the last six months, lawmakers in more than two dozen cities and states have made strides to stop landlords from using anti-competitive rental software to determine how much to charge for rent. Shelterforce looks at the wins and losses so far.

DOT Awards 77% of BUILD Grants to Road Projects
Trump’s DOT is directing 87 percent of total grant dollars to states that backed the President in the last election.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Caltrans
City of Fort Worth
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie