national monuments

One day after Trump's national monument cuts, Moab-based Kimmerle Mining filed seven claims within the old boundaries of Bears Ears. Less than a month later, Craig Rosequist filed two claims within Grand Staircase.

“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.

Senator Mike Lee’s push to fast-track rule changes for Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument failed to pass before a key deadline. But the fight over the southern Utah monument is likely far from over.

Utah’s congressional delegation introduced a resolution to roll back the rules that govern the vast monument. Conservation groups worry the move will harm southern Utah’s landscape and protected areas across the West.

For Garfield and Kane counties, the years since Grand Staircase-Escalante was established have seen large increases in populations and jobs.

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.

Cedar Breaks National Monument sits at more than 10,000 feet of elevation and typically holds onto its snow into late May or early June. We got a chance to take a guided snowshoe hike before the season shut down.

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.