Utah ranchers, residents, outdoorsmen and local governments are applauding President Donald Trump's reduction of two National Monuments in Utah.
After yesterdays announcement to rescind over 2 million acres of land from Bears Ears National Monument and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, public lands ranchers across the West see a future for their operations. Even with the reduction in the two National Monuments, the Public Lands Council says the battle isn't over. They are advocating that the Antiquities Act be reformed to prevent future abuse of power by a president.
Utah rancher and President of the Public Lands Council, Dave Eliason says that “previous administrations abused the power of the Antiquities Act.” Adding that “rural communities in Utah and across the west have paid the price.”
(Watch Utah ranchers discuss the impact the two Utah National Monuments had on rural economies)
While a majority of residents support the reduction of the two monuments, environmentalist
Reuters reports that the “The Natural Resources Defense Council, the Center for Biological Diversity, the Sierra Club and other environmental groups sued in federal court in Washington on Monday, asking for a judge to block Trump from shrinking the monuments.”
Click here for the full Reuters report.
Also, the Hopi, Navajo, Pueblo of Zuni, Ute Mountian and Ute Indians are voicing their opposition to the monument reduction.
Click here for more on the reduction of the monuments.
Northern Ag Network 2017, Reuters, Public Land Council
