Utah has some of the most-visited national parks in the U.S., welcoming a combined 15.8 million visitors and bringing in $3.1 billion to the state . In the coming year, those millions of visitors may enjoy a backdrop of coal mines as they enjoy the amphitheater of Bryce Canyon National Park or exit the slot canyons of Grand Staircase—Escalante.

The change comes as thousands of acres of federally-owned land becomes available for mining leases on the heels of Congress' spending package that was passed in July 2025. The land, managed by the Bureau of Land Management under the Department of the Interior (which also manages the National Park Service), runs directly against numerous national park sites in Utah, including several of its most visited national parks.

While the leases have on

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