Sixteen new mining claims were filed in lands previously protected by the Bears Ears National Monument immediately following the lifting of a mining ban on Sept. 11, 2026. The claims, recorded in San Juan County, include interests from Kimmerle Mining and George W. Schultz in areas such as the Lockhart Basin.
New Claims in San Juan County
The new claims were recorded on Sept. 11, 2026, by noon, though they did not appear in the San Juan County Recorder’s Office online system until Sept. 15, 2026, according to the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance. The filings occur after President Trump reduced the size of the Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments by more than 90%, a move that triggered a 60-day prohibition on staking new mining claims until Sept. 11, 2026.
Of the sixteen new claims, 13 were filed by Kimmerle Mining. Two of these are adjustments to the "Easy Peasy" claims, which were originally filed after a 2017 reduction of the monument by the Trump administration. The remaining 11 claims from Kimmerle Mining are new. Three additional claims were filed by George W. Schultz in the Lockhart Basin area.
Concerns Over Extraction and Access
The filings in the Lockhart Basin area have drawn scrutiny due to the region's cultural significance. Sara Cawley, the energy director at the National Parks Conservation Association, noted that three of the new claims are located in the Lockhart Basin, a landscape containing numerous archaeological and cultural sites situated near the eastern boundary of Canyonlands National Park.
Conservation groups have expressed concern that the speed of these filings indicates an intent to prioritize extraction over public access. Chris Hill, CEO of the Conservation Lands Foundation, stated that the timing of the claims suggests the recent administration's actions were intended to clear the way for mining. Hill also criticized officials, including BLM Director Pearce and Governor Cox, for allegedly giving a "green light" to mining companies racing to stake claims on sacred landscapes.
History of Mining Disputes
The recent filings follow a history of legal disputes regarding the management of the national monuments. On July 14, 2026, Kimmerle Mining filed seven mining claims with the San Juan County Recorder’s Office in areas that had been cut out of the monument. Kyle Kimmerle, a managing member of Kimmerle Mining, was also a plaintiff in legal challenges in the District of Utah regarding President Biden’s 2021 restoration of the Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments.
Prior to the Sept. 11 deadline, other claims had also been filed in the region. On Aug. 6, 2026, Craig Rosequist filed two mining claims with the Kane County Recorder’s Office in areas removed from the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. Public records indicate Rosequist has previously located several mining claims in neighboring Washington County, Utah.
Public Opinion and Tribal Management
The expansion of mining interests follows the decimation of the monuments' boundaries. The Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance noted that the rush to locate claims in Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante reinforces the need for vigilance as advocates work to restore the original boundaries of both monuments.
Chaitna Sinha, a staff attorney and conservation codirector for the Grand Canyon Trust, noted that the 16 new claims in Bears Ears follow polling data indicating widespread public support for monument protections. According to the Grand Canyon Trust, a poll found that 52% of Utah Republicans and 82% of those polled believe Native American tribes should have a strong role in managing the lands they hold sacred.
Environmental and Cultural Risks
The environmental impact of the new claims remains a primary concern for conservationists. Dr. Jackie Grant, executive director of the Grand Staircase-Escalante Partners, previously warned that mining claims in the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument could put crucial water resources at risk, noting the monument protects over 2,510 river miles that flow into Lake Powell and the Grand Canyon.
Conservation organizations, including the Sierra Club, the Natural Resources Defense Council, and the Wilderness Society, have all stated that the rapid movement by the mining industry demonstrates the consequences of stripping protections from these landscapes. They maintain that the current trajectory risks turning these cultural landscapes into "sacrifice zones" for corporate profit.
Ongoing Legal Tension
The debate over the monuments' size and usage continues to be a point of contention between federal administration policies and local conservation efforts. Advocates argue that the current administration's actions to reduce the monuments are illegal and that the Bureau of Land Management should reject claims filed in violation of restoration laws.
Future of Monument Protection
The Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance and other partner organizations continue to work toward the restoration of the original boundaries for both the Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments.
