What to know about Trump shrinking 2 national monuments in Utah
Summary
President Donald Trump announced plans to reduce the size of two national monuments in Utah, Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante, reversing actions that had expanded them. This move follows similar steps Trump took during his first term, which were reversed by President Joe Biden, leading to debates over land management and preservation.Key Facts
- Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante are large national monuments in Utah, important for natural beauty and Native American heritage.
- President Trump plans to shrink these monuments from over 3.2 million acres to less than 303,000 acres combined.
- The Antiquities Act of 1906 gives presidents the power to protect or change these monuments.
- President Biden restored the original sizes of these monuments and created several new ones to honor cultural and historical sites.
- Those supporting the reductions argue that smaller boundaries allow for mining and economic development of minerals like coal and uranium.
- Opponents, including tribes, say the reductions disrespect tribal co-management and harm preservation efforts.
- State officials in Utah support the reductions, saying local management is better for protecting the land.
- There is legal debate about whether a president can shrink monuments, but past presidents have done so before.
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