Yavapai News

Rep. Eli Crane (R-AZ) sharply criticized President Biden’s designation of an area of northern Arizona, which has significant uranium deposits, as a new national monument, preventing the development of those uranium resources. 

“With today’s announcement, President Biden and Interior Secretary Haaland have made it apparent that national security, economic prosperity, and tribal sovereignty are disposable to them. Biden is shamelessly politicizing the Grand Canyon to appease the radical left and distract from his dereliction of duty just a few hours south at the border,” Crane said in a tweet. 

“Uranium is critical to American energy and security, and this ridiculous political posturing only makes us more reliant on foreign nations such as China and Russia,” Crane said.

“Apart from sabotaging national security and energy independence, Biden Administration policies trap Americans in poverty and undercut the economy. Northern Arizona’s economy will lose billions because of this stifling land grab by the federal government,” he said.

Biden designated about a million acres of land near the Grand Canyon as the fifth national monument of his term, which prevents the development of natural resources there. The monument is called “Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni," meaning “where tribes roam.” The monument will conserve “landscape sacred to Tribal Nations and Indigenous peoples and advance President Biden’s historic climate and conservation agenda,” the White House said.

The land designated as a national monument ”includes some of America’s richest uranium deposits. This is another monument to the Administration’s destructive energy policy,” an Aug. 8 Wall Street Journal commentary said, calling it “A Gift to Putin” in the headline.

The White House announcement “omits that the land also includes America’s only source of high-grade uranium ore that is economically competitive on the global market,” the Journal commentary said. About 95% of the uranium used in U.S. nuclear reactors for generating electricity is imported, and Russia is the third biggest source of fuel for U.S. reactors, the Journal commentary said.

Crane, a former Navy SEAL, represents Arizona’s 2nd District, which encompasses most of northern Arizona, his official House bio says. The newly designated national monument is in his district.