• Congressional Support for Bears Ears National Monument

    November 20, 2018

    Led by Senator Tom Udall (D-NM) and Congressman Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ), 26 Senators and 92 Members of Congress filed a brief as Amici Curiae on November 19 in support of consolidated lawsuits that challenge the legality of President Trump’s executive action to reduce existing national monument designations at Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante in southern Utah. Barbara Pahl, senior vice president of field services for the National Trust for Historic Preservation, released a statement regarding the news:

    “We commend Senator Tom Udall (D-NM) and Congressman Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ) for their leadership in standing up for the original boundaries of the Bears Ears National Monument and for organizing a strong show of Congressional support for maintaining the integrity of the Antiquities Act. The reduction of the Bears Ears boundaries as proposed by the Trump Administration would do grave damage to an extraordinary cultural landscape and would violate the intention of a powerful preservation tool that enables presidents to establish national monuments—not diminish them.”

    The full statement may be viewed here.


  • Bears Ears at Risk! Comments due November 15

    October 31, 2018

    The public has an opportunity to review the management plan for Bears Ears—a place of extraordinary cultural significance in southeast Utah. Join us in making a strong statement of support for protecting its archaeological wonders from an insufficient plan and a flawed process!

    As you may recall, an executive order by President Trump removed nearly 85 percent of the land from the Bears Ears National Monument—an action we are currently challenging in court. Now, the Bureau of Land Management and the US Forest Service have released draft management plans for the monument that fall short in major ways. The proposed plans only consider the management needs of the much smaller monument and are not sufficiently protective, leaving the land vulnerable to threats like mining, oil and gas extraction, looting, and vandalism.

    The deadline for the public comment period is fast approaching. Please act today to send the message that irreplaceable public lands like the Bears Ears National Monument deserve to be fully protected.

    Comments must be submitted on or before November 15, 2018.

  • Tell BLM that the national monument boundaries should be restored

    March 19, 2018

    Bears Ears National Monument, Utah

    photo by: Bob Wick/BLM

    Even though the National Trust’s legal challenge to the revocation of the Bears Ears National Monument is still pending in federal court, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is moving forward to develop a new resource management plan for the area and is asking for public input.

    Join us in seizing this opportunity to tell BLM that the national monument boundaries should be restored to ensure the maximum protection of Bears Ears’ cultural resources.

    Two public meetings will be held in Utah later this month. For those not able to attend, comments are due April 11, 2018.

    Let’s send a strong message that Bears Ears is a place of extraordinary significance and beauty and should be managed to ensure it is protected from conflicting, harmful uses such as looting, mining, and oil and gas drilling.

  • National Trust letter to the House Natural Resources Committee opposing HR 4532

    February 21, 2018

    On February 13, the National Trust sent a letter to the House Natural Resources Committee opposing legislation that would remove more than 1.1 million acres from the Bears Ears National Monument, including some of the most significant and highly visited archaeological areas.

    The Shash Jáa National Monument and Indian Creek National Monument Act (H.R. 4532), introduced by Rep. John Curtis (R-UT), would protect just 15 percent of the original monument boundaries and establish a troubling new management structure that would put these lands at risk. The letter urges the Committee not to advance the legislation, and, instead, engage in meaningful discussions with Tribal governments, archaeological experts, conservationists, and other stakeholders about how to protect the exceptional cultural resources of the area for current and future generations.

    A total of 31 organizations and Tribal Nations signed the letter—a tremendous showing of support from those dedicated to preserving cultural, historic, and archaeological resources. The full letter may be viewed here.

  • Bears Ears Still in Jeopardy

    January 8, 2018

    As you know, in late November, President Trump issued a proclamation that revoked national monument status for 85 percent of the land included in the original Bears Ears National Monument designation. This would remove protections for many well-known historic, scientific, and cultural areas that are deeply significant to Native American heritage and culture.

    This egregious and unlawful act spurred us to join a broad coalition including Native American, conservation, and outdoor enthusiast groups in filing a lawsuit to stop the dismantling of Bears Ears National Monument.

    While our legal challenge moves forward, we need to turn back another threat to this priceless landscape: A new bill that would nullify the original Bears Ears National Monument proclamation and codify into law President Trump’s much smaller monument boundaries.

    If passed, the Shash Jáa National Monument and Indian Creek National Monument Act, introduced by Rep. John Curtis (R-UT), would protect just 15 percent of the original Bears Ears National Monument footprint. It would also undermine the Bears Ears Commission, which includes representatives from the five tribes who work alongside federal agencies to ensure appropriate management of historic and cultural resources in the area.

    Join us today in urging your lawmakers to oppose this damaging bill that would remove protections from one of America’s most treasured cultural landscapes. A hearing for this bill is scheduled for January 9, 2018.

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