By OBBM Network Editorial Staff

The White House

A dramatic shift in the management of America’s public lands has begun, as President Trump signed an executive order to re-examine the boundaries of two national monuments in Utah, Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante. The move aims to ‘right-size’ the monuments, which were designated by previous administrations without adequate input from local communities.

Background and Context

The Antiquities Act of 1906 grants the President the authority to designate national monuments, but the law also stipulates that the designated area should be the ‘smallest area compatible with the objects to be protected.’ However, the designations of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante were made without sufficient consideration of this requirement, resulting in massive land areas being set aside, effectively locking out local communities from using these lands for multiple purposes.

According to the Governor of Utah, the state has nine monuments, seven of which are around 700 acres to 7,000 acres, which is more in line with the original intent of the Antiquities Act. In contrast, the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument covers nearly 3 million acres, an area equivalent to the size of the state of Delaware.

Impact and Debate

The decision to re-examine the boundaries of these monuments has sparked intense debate over the balance between conservation and economic development. Proponents of the executive order argue that it will allow for more responsible management of the land, enabling local communities to utilize the resources for economic growth while still protecting the environment and cultural resources. Critics, however, fear that reducing the size of the monuments will lead to the exploitation of natural resources and the destruction of sensitive ecosystems.

As Senator Lee noted, ‘President Biden, President Clinton, and President Obama overlooked that standard. President Trump is fixing it today.’ The Senator emphasized that the local communities were not adequately consulted during the initial designation process, which led to the monuments being created over the unanimous opposition of Utah’s federal delegation, governors, county commissioners, and locals.

Conclusion and Next Steps

The executive order signed by President Trump marks a significant shift in the approach to managing national monuments. While the decision has been met with both praise and criticism, it underscores the complex and often contentious nature of balancing conservation with economic development. As the process of re-examining the boundaries of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante moves forward, it will be crucial to engage in open and inclusive dialogue with all stakeholders to ensure that the management of these public lands reflects the needs and values of both local communities and the nation as a whole.

‘We’re grateful that the president has made a determination that we need to right-size these monuments,’ said the Governor of Utah. ‘Again, this does not remove the other protections that already exist in those areas.’

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