Prospectors Stake Claims on Bears Ears Land Immediately After Trump Shrinks Monument

Prospectors moved swiftly to stake claims on approximately 1.2 million acres of federal land in southeast Utah, following President Donald Trump's significant reduction of Bears Ears National Monument's protected status. On September 11, the very first day the land was made accessible after the monument's boundaries were altered, 16 mining claims were officially filed. These initial filings appear to have originated from small-scale, local prospectors, many of whom hold other full-time jobs, operate small businesses, and possess a specific interest in uranium mining. This rapid influx of claims has triggered significant concern among environmental advocacy groups, most notably the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance. The organization anticipates a continued surge in mining claims as more of the formerly protected land becomes available for resource extraction.

Steve Bloch, an attorney representing the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, voiced apprehension regarding the potential impact of these activities. He stated, "Hobby miners who want to go locate claims, play miner on the weekend, leave disturbance and pollution in their wake that really damages the monument resources." This sentiment highlights the fear that casual or recreational mining operations could inflict lasting environmental damage on the sensitive ecosystems within the Bears Ears region.

One individual who has staked claims is George Schultz, an off-roading guide based in Moab, Utah. Schultz filed three claims in the Lockhart Basin area. He characterized the act of staking a claim as merely a "step" in the broader mining process. Schultz also emphasized that lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) that fall outside of national monument protections are designated for "multiple uses," implying that resource extraction is a legitimate activity in these areas. While Schultz declined to specify the exact minerals he anticipates mining at his claim sites, his professional networking profile on LinkedIn indicates prior experience in uranium exploration, a mineral historically significant in the region.

A substantial portion of the initial claims, thirteen out of the sixteen filed, were submitted by Kimmerle Mining, a family-owned business also headquartered in Moab. This submission included modifications to the existing 21-acre "Easy Peasy" mine and the establishment of eleven additional claims in the immediate vicinity. Kyle Kimmerle, identified as a managing member of Kimmerle Mining, declined to provide comment on the company's activities. However, public records reveal that Kimmerle was appointed to the board of directors of Urano Energy, a Canadian-based mining company with a primary focus on uranium exploration, in 2024. His entrepreneurial activities also extend to operating a general contracting business and a tire shop in Moab.

Bears Ears National Monument itself has a contentious history. It was initially established in December 2016 by President Barack Obama during his final weeks in office, designating approximately 1.35 million acres of federal land in southeastern Utah for special protection. This designation aimed to preserve the area's significant cultural, historical, and natural resources. However, the monument quickly became a political focal point. In 2017, President Trump issued a proclamation that drastically reduced the monument's boundaries by roughly 90 percent, opening vast tracts of land to potential development and resource extraction. This action reversed years of conservation efforts and ignited legal and political battles over the monument's future, with subsequent administrations reviewing and altering its protections.