Utah Republicans U.S. Sen. John Curtis and U.S. Reps. Blake Moore and Celeste Maloy applauded executive orders signed Monday by President Trump that reduce Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments in their home state by roughly 90 percent.
Under the orders, Bears Ears was reduced to roughly 121,000 acres and Grand Staircase-Escalante to 182,000 acres, a move the lawmakers argue allows federal and state agencies to properly manage and preserve the targeted archaeological and scientific sites rather than millions of surrounding acres, and represents a return to an appropriate application of the Antiquities Act as Congress intended.
“President Trump’s executive action restores a more balanced approach to managing Utah’s public lands and shows a willingness by this administration to listen to the state of Utah,” Sen. Curtis said on July 13. “While today’s announcement is an important step in the right direction and a more appropriate interpretation of the Antiquities Act, the responsibility remains with Congress to do what executive orders cannot: bring stakeholders together, work through disagreements, and enact lasting solutions.”
When Congress passed the Antiquities Act in 1906, it authorized presidents to protect historic and scientific objects by reserving only “the smallest area compatible with the proper care and management of the objects to be protected,” according to the lawmakers, who say the law was never intended to place millions of acres under monument designation with the stroke of a pen.
The lands outside the modified monument boundaries remain federal public lands and continue to be protected under existing federal laws, they noted.
“Today’s announcement takes into consideration years of local concern over restricted access and misuse of the Antiquities Act while still protecting our state’s natural and cultural resources for future generations,” said Rep. Moore. “If the Antiquities Act is going to be used, it needs to be on the smallest area possible — that’s what we’re doing here.”
“Utahns have long supported protecting our state’s extraordinary cultural and natural resources,” added Rep. Maloy. “This action honors that goal while following the law Congress passed and giving greater consideration to the people who know these lands best.”