Estimated read time: Less than a minute
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Utah's all-Republican congressional delegation is urging President Barack Obama not to use his broad authority to designate a new national monument in the southeast part of the state.
Utah's two senators and four U.S. representatives sent a letter to Obama on Friday opposing a possible monument in the Bears Ears region.
American Indian and conservation groups say the area is under threat from ATVs and looting and are calling for a 1.9 million-acre Bears Ears National Monument.
Obama has not said he intends to designate a monument there but the U.S. Interior Department says it's concerned that tribal members' concerns have not been addressed by a land plan from Reps. Rob Bishop and Jason Chaffetz.
Utah's congressional officials told Obama in the letter that any monument designation will be met with fierce opposition.
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
