Northern Arizona Protection Act
The Northern Arizona Protection Act is a bill introduced in the 119th Congress that would roll back the Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni-Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument designation declared by Presidential Proclamation 10606 in 2023. Specifically, it declares that Proclamation 10606 “shall have no force or effect,” effectively restoring the land to its prior status and removing the national monument protections. It also bars any future extension or establishment of national monuments within the same mapped area unless Congress explicitly authorizes it. In short, the bill transfers decision-making authority over this land from the executive branch (the President) back to Congress and reopens the area to mineral entry unless Congress acts to limit or designate protections again.
Key Points
- 1Nullifies Presidential Proclamation 10606, which established Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni-Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument.
- 2Prohibits any extension or new national monuments in the mapped Baaj Nwaavjo area unless Congress passes specific legislation authorizing it.
- 3Reverts land protections by removing the monument designation, which had previously withdrawn certain lands from mineral entry.
- 4Places the authority to designate or designate again any monuments in this area squarely with Congress, not the President.
- 5Applies specifically to the area depicted on the August 5, 2023 map of Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni, and to future actions in that area.