In July 2026, Trump removed monument protections from 2.93 million acres at Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante; on September 11, the excluded lands became eligible for new mining claims
Trump opens 2.93M acres of Utah lands to new mining claims after cutting monument protections. (Photo: Shutterstock) President Donald Trump’s July decision to sharply shrink two major national monuments in Utah took effect for mining and mineral development on September 11, when nearly 2.93 million acres removed from Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante became eligible…