"Plan would expand boundaries at Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments, and reimpose fishing restrictions on the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument"

"Interior Secretary Deb Haaland has recommended in a confidential report that President Biden restore full protections to three national monuments diminished by President Donald Trump, including Utah’s Bears Ears, Grand Staircase-Escalante and a huge marine reserve off New England. The move, described by two people who spoke on the condition of anonymity because it was not yet public, would preserve about 5 million acres of federal land and water.

A broad coalition of conservationists, scientists and tribal activists has urged Biden to expand the Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments, which were established by Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, respectively, to their original boundaries. Trump cut Bears Ears by nearly 85 percent, and Grand Staircase-Escalante almost in half, in December 2017. A year ago, he permitted commercial fishing on the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument, which removed most of the monument’s protections.

The White House is still deliberating, according to these people, but Biden favors the idea of overturning Trump’s actions. Employing the 1906 Antiquities Act, which gives the president broad latitude to protect threatened land and water, ranks as one of the easiest ways for Biden to conserve areas unilaterally."

Juliet Eilperin and Joshua Partlow report for the Washington Post June 14, 2021. [2]

SEE ALSO:

"Haaland Wants to Restore Environmental Safeguards for Three National Monuments" (New York Times) [3]

"Advocates Work Toward New Southern Nevada National Monument" (AP) [4]