Tribal and community members encouraged President Biden to exercise his Antiquities Act authority to designate a national monument.

Look West: Public lands and energy news from the Center for Western Priorities


** Hundreds show support for proposed national monument near Grand Canyon
------------------------------------------------------------
Thursday, July 20, 2023
Supporters of the proposed national monument outside a public meeting in Flagstaff, Arizona. Photo: Kate Groetzinger, Center for Western Priorities.

Over 500 people attended a public meeting in Flagstaff, Arizona this week to comment on the proposed Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni Grand Canyon National Monument. The meeting, hosted by the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service, was held to hear from Tribes and communities ([link removed]) about a proposal from the Grand Canyon Tribal Coalition to protect approximately 1.1 million acres of land that is near the Grand Canyon but not part of the existing national park. Comments offered were overwhelmingly in support ([link removed]) of the proposal. Supporters also demonstrated ([link removed]) outside the meeting.

Congressmen Raúl Grijalva and Ruben Gallego, both of Arizona, have also introduced legislation ([link removed]) to create a monument; a companion bill ([link removed]) has been introduced by Arizona Senators Mark Kelly and Kyrsten Sinema. Legislation to protect this area has been introduced in every Congress since 2008, but has languished along with other popular conservation proposals ([link removed]) in recent years. Tribal and community members encouraged ([link removed]) President Biden to consider exercising his authority under the Antiquities Act to designate a national monument.
Quick hits


** Public hearing on proposed Grand Canyon area national monument draws hundreds
------------------------------------------------------------

Fronteras Desk ([link removed]) | KPNX ([link removed]) | KNAU ([link removed]) | Cronkite News ([link removed])


** BLM sees strong positive response to proposed Public Lands Rule
------------------------------------------------------------

Vail Daily ([link removed])


** House committee looks to slash budgets for Interior, EPA
------------------------------------------------------------

Wyoming Public Radio ([link removed])


** Drought, heat drive worsening wildfire conditions in Montana
------------------------------------------------------------

Helena Independent Record ([link removed])


** California to cap hundreds of illness-causing orphan wells
------------------------------------------------------------

Los Angeles Times ([link removed])


** How Wyoming's Carbon County came to embrace renewable energy
------------------------------------------------------------

E&E News ([link removed])


** This national park is so wild it has no roads. Now some want to mine outside its gates
------------------------------------------------------------

Washington Post ([link removed])


** Opinion: Coal CEOs are running out of excuses
------------------------------------------------------------

WyoFile ([link removed])
Quote of the day
” As guardians of the Grand Canyon, we have a duty to protect it.”
—Edmond Tilousi, Havasupai Tribe Vice Chairman, KPNX ([link removed])
Picture this


** @greatbasinnps ([link removed])
------------------------------------------------------------
Trail Showcase! The park has not one, but three separate groves of the ancient bristlecone pine. The easiest way to see these incredible trees is on the 2.8-mile round-trip grove hike at the base of Wheeler Peak. The trailhead begins at the parking lot at the end of the Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive, and after travelling through the mixed conifer forest just below 10,000 feet, you come upon the exposed glacial talus that these thousand-year-old trees call home. Twisting their branches toward the sky, the bristlecones survive in a strikingly harsh environment where few other organisms can survive. If you’re feeling more adventurous, you can extend the trail another mile on to the rock glacier, remnant of the last ice age. The area feels both active and unchanging, providing serenity among these primordial pines.

============================================================
** Twitter ([link removed])
** Facebook ([link removed])
** Medium ([link removed])
** Instagram ([link removed])
Copyright © 2023 Center for Western Priorities, All rights reserved.
You've signed up to receive Look West updates.

Center for Western Priorities
1999 Broadway
Suite 520
Denver, CO 80202
USA
** View this on the web ([link removed])

Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can ** update your preferences ([link removed])
or ** unsubscribe from this list ([link removed])