Trump reduces size of 2 Utah national monuments by nearly 3 million acres
President Trump has ordered the reduction of Grand Staircase-Escalante and Bears Ears national monuments in Utah by nearly 3 million acres. The move affects more than 90% of each monument's area.
President Trump has reduced the size of two national monuments in Utah, Grand Staircase-Escalante and Bears Ears, by nearly 3 million acres. Grand Staircase-Escalante will lose nearly 1.7 of its 1.87 million acres, while Bears Ears' 1.36 million acres will be reduced to about 121,000.
The cuts are more drastic than in 2017, when Trump eliminated almost half of Grand Staircase-Escalante and 85% of Bears Ears. The Biden administration restored the previous boundaries in 2021 and added 12,000 acres to Bears Ears. The practicality of extraction at the monuments has been debated for years, with Utah officials saying there is little energy potential at the monuments, but uranium mining is more realistic.
Not all of the lands removed from the monuments are totally unprotected, as some sites remain within federal Wilderness Study Areas and Areas of Environmental Concern. However, Trump's Interior Department has announced a review of policies around these areas, which conservation groups say could weaken the protections they offer.
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What are the Grand Staircase-Escalante and Bears Ears national monuments?
They are two national monuments in Utah, created to protect places of historic, prehistoric or scientific interest. Grand Staircase-Escalante was established by President Clinton in 1996, and Bears Ears was established by President Obama in 2016.
Why were the monuments reduced in size?
The reduction was made by President Trump, who ordered the decrease in size of the two monuments by nearly 3 million acres. The move is expected to allow for potential expansion of drilling, mining, off-roading, and grazing.
What are the effects of the reduction?
The reduction affects more than 90% of each monument's area, with Grand Staircase-Escalante losing nearly 1.7 of its 1.87 million acres and Bears Ears' 1.36 million acres being reduced to about 121,000.
What is the current status of the monuments' boundaries?
The boundaries of the monuments have been changed several times, with President Trump reducing their size in 2017, and President Biden restoring the previous boundaries in 2021. The latest cuts made by President Trump will likely revive arguments over the legality of the changes.
What's next for the monuments?
The latest cuts will likely lead to renewed legal challenges, with a 2017 lawsuit claiming that President Trump had no authority to rescind a monument. A similar dispute is at play in a lawsuit filed by Utah officials to stop President Biden's restoration of the monuments.
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