In a concerning development, the beloved Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in Utah is once again under threat from Republican lawmakers in the state. Activists and environmental groups are sounding the alarm, warning that efforts are underway to overturn the monument’s Biden-era management plan, which has helped protect this pristine 1.8 million-acre wilderness.
The Congressional Review Act, a 1996 law that allows Congress to undo certain federal agency actions, is being leveraged by Utah’s federal delegation to potentially dismantle the carefully crafted management plan. This plan was developed through extensive public consultation, scientific research, and meaningful engagement with tribal communities, according to the Bureau of Land Management.
Congresswoman Celeste Maloy, who has previously pushed to sell thousands of acres of federal land in southwestern Utah, has been a vocal critic of the current management plan, claiming it is “fundamentally incompatible” with state and local goals. However, studies have shown that national monument designations do not disrupt local economies, and in fact, the communities surrounding Grand Staircase-Escalante have seen a steady increase in earnings per job since the monument’s establishment in 1996.
“This is a direct assault by Utah politicians on one of the crown jewels of America’s system of federal public lands,” warned Steve Bloch, legal director at the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance. “Any attempt to leverage this obscure federal law against the monument is an effort to thwart the will of millions of Americans who have repeatedly stood up in support of Grand Staircase-Escalante, its wild red rock landscapes and its irreplaceable cultural and fossil resources.”
This is not the first time the monument has faced threats. During the Trump administration, the size of the monument was nearly halved, opening the remaining areas to potential drilling and mining. Former President Biden subsequently restored the original boundaries, but now the fight to protect this natural wonder continues.
Environmentalists and activists are urging the public to remain vigilant and to voice their support for preserving the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, a unique and irreplaceable part of America’s natural heritage.
