Mining claims have been filed in areas of the Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments following recent presidential reductions of the monuments, according to an August 14 statement from Earthjustice.
The filings occur in the wake of President Trump's reduction of the Bears Ears National Monument by over 90%.
On July 14, 2026, Kimmerle Mining filed seven mining claims with the San Juan County Recorder’s Office in areas cut out of the monument. Kimmerle Mining previously filed claims after the 2017 reduction of Bears Ears and excavated a partially reclaimed mine shaft on the Easy Peasy claim.
Additionally, two mining claims were filed in Grand Staircase-Escalante on August 6, 2026, by Craig Rosequist with the Kane County Recorder’s Office. Rosequist has previously located several mining claims in neighboring Washington County.
Under current proclamations, mining claims cannot be staked until 60 days after the date of the proclamation, which is scheduled for Friday, Sept. 11. The statement notes that any attempted appropriation of lands under mining laws before the date of restoration is unauthorized.
Conservation groups and tribal representatives have expressed concern regarding the impact of these claims. Autumn Gillard of the Grand Staircase Inter-Tribal Coalition stated that new mining on lands cut from the monument threatens sacred places, culture, and history.
Other advocates noted that the speed of these filings demonstrates the potential consequences of stripping protections from these landscapes. The Grand Staircase-Escalante Partners indicated that mining claims could put crucial water resources at risk, potentially impacting over 2,510 river miles.
