Utah’s Governor, its Senators, and Representatives have responded to President Trump’s action to modify boundaries of the Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments. The overwhelming feeling is that this decision is a return to the Antiquities Act as Congress intended. A press release from Utah’s federal delegation states, “ The lands outside the modified monument boundaries remain federal public lands and continue to be protected under existing federal laws. [Monday’s] action does not remove those protections. Instead, it better aligns the monument boundaries with the Antiquities Act while ensuring these landscapes remain available for responsible stewardship and multiple use.” Rep. Celeste Maloy stated that “Utahns have long supported protecting our state’s extraordinary cultural and natural resources. This action honors that goal while following the law Congress passed and giving greater consideration to the people who know these lands best.”
