Brian Willis: Brian.Willis@sierraclub.org
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, news media outlets have begun reporting that Donald Trump is expected to sign an executive order as soon as Monday, July 13 to dismantle the Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments.
In response, Loren Blackford, the Executive Director of Sierra Club, released the following statement:
"If these reports are true, Donald Trump is once again putting corporate polluters and extractive industries ahead of our public lands. Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante are irreplaceable landscapes that protect sacred Tribal sites, extraordinary wildlife habitat, and some of the most significant cultural and scientific resources in the country. These monuments belong to all Americans—not to the oil, gas, or mining interests that have long sought to exploit them.
“This reckless move would ignore overwhelming public support for protecting our public lands while threatening places that tell the story of our nation's history and natural legacy. Sierra Club stands with Tribal Nations, local communities, and our partners in defending Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante. We will fight any attempt to strip protections from these iconic landscapes and will continue working to ensure they remain protected for future generations—not sacrificed for short-term corporate gain."
Franque Bains, the Director of the Utah Chapter of the Sierra Club, released the following statement:
“For Utahns, Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante aren’t political talking points—they’re living landscapes that sustain wildlife, support local economies, and connect people to some of the most extraordinary places in the world. Instead of working to protect these places for future generations, Senator Mike Lee and Utah’s congressional delegation continue to champion attacks on our national monuments that are deeply unpopular with Utahns and Americans across the country. Any attempt to dismantle these monuments disregards years of work by Tribal Nations, local communities, scientists, sportsmen, businesses, and conservationists who have fought to protect these landscapes. Utah’s public lands are part of our identity, and they deserve lasting projections that reflect their immense cultural and ecological value—not another round of political whiplash.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, 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.