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 Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information.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 officials who fear President Barack Obama may be poised to declare a new national monument in the state are once again telling the president they oppose the idea.
Gov. Gary Herbert, U.S. Sens. Mike Lee and Orrin Hatch, Utah's four members of Congress and southern Utah county commissioner Rebecca Benally all signed a letter delivered Friday to the White House.
They've sent similar letters in the past few months.
The group is requesting a meeting with Obama to explain in person why they're against to the proposed 1.9 million-acre Bears Ears National Monument in southern Utah.
American Indian tribes and conservation groups are pushing for a monument, which they say is threatened by off-road vehicles and looting.
Utah officials fiercely opposed to the monument say it's overly broad and will hurt local economies.
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
