Carly Ferro Carly.Ferro@sierraclub.org 801.467.9294 x100
SALT LAKE CITY -- Today the Department of the Interior released draft management plans for Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments. The proposed plans leave most of Bears Ears without protections, and open significant portions of Grand Staircase to dirty fuel development. The management plans are moving forward for public comment despite current legal challenges to the Trump administration’s illegal actions to shrink the monuments.
In response, Ashley Soltysiak, Director of Utah Sierra Club issued the following response.
“Sec. Zinke’s motivation has clearly been to exploit our public lands to benefit the dirty fuel industry all along, regardless of the cultural, natural and economic costs. The Trump administration acted illegally when it stripped the lands of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante of monument status. Now the Interior is rushing to let in mining and drilling before a court can overturn the rollbacks.”
Soltysiak continued, “Utah’s wild places are deeply connected with the people and identity of this region. We will continue to challenge attempts to open these lands for outdated and dirty fuel development at every opportunity.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3 million members and supporters. In addition to helping people from all backgrounds explore nature and our outdoor heritage, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.