Antiquities Act

“Until you get either some kind of congressional solution or a binding judicial opinion as to what the president's authority is, then we get the unfortunate result of having things bounce back and forth” with Bears Ears and Grand Staircase, said one public lands law expert.

Flanked by Utah’s delegation, Gov. Spencer Cox and Utah Speaker Mike Schultz, the president again reduced the boundaries and protections of the two monuments. Conservationists and tribal leaders worry it could undo years of work to protect these lands.

The legal opinion released Tuesday disavows a 1938 determination that monuments created by previous president can’t be revoked.

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum has ordered federal officials to review and consider redrawing the boundaries of national monuments created under previous presidents to protect unique landscapes and cultural resources. The order is part of President Donald Trump's push to expand U.S. energy production.

Since 1906, all but three presidents have used the Antiquities Act to protect unique landscapes and cultural resources. Biden has signed off on six monuments and either restored or enlarged boundaries for a handful of others during his term.

Bears Ears National Monument in southeast Utah has been at the center of political fights over public land in recent years. The upcoming presidential election threatens to continue escalating that tug-of-war.

The move follows calls from tribal nations, Indigenous community leaders and others for the permanent protection of nearly 120,000 acres of important cultural and environmental land.

The latest Utah news from Tuesday evening, January 26, 2021.

Separate bills are active in Congress to alternately strengthen or weaken the law used to create national monuments.House Democrats have introduced a bill…

Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, says he received a surprise phone call from President Donald Trump Friday about shrinking the Bears Ears National Monument. In a…

Republicans and Democrats began wrangling over national monuments Wednesday in the form of a bill by Rep. Rob Bishop, R-Utah.Bishop, who’s chairman of the…

Jonathan Till was examining some new donations - a basket, a ladle, a flute and clay pots - back when I met him last year.“Normally, we don't take things…