CEI’s Myron Ebell Comments on Trump’s Proclamations Downsizing two Utah National Monuments

CEI’s Myron Ebell Comments on Trump’s Proclamations Downsizing two Utah National Monuments

“CEI applauds President Trump’s proclamations today that significantly reduce the size of Grand Staircase-Escalante and Bears Ears National Monuments in Utah. This is great news for the people of rural Utah who have been locked out of using and enjoying millions of acres of federal lands. And it is a great first step in redressing the multiple abuses of the Antiquities Act of 1906 by Presidents Obama, George W. Bush, and Clinton. Now that President Trump has redressed some of the wrongs done to the people of rural Utah, we hope he will next rescind or reduce similarly outrageous National Monument designations in Maine, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, and California.

“We also encourage the Congress to pass legislation to abolish or reform the outdated Antiquities Act so that future presidents cannot use it to lock up federal lands without congressional authorization.