by Bill Boyle
While headlines across the county screamed about a land rush in the past week, the on-the-ground reality tells a much different story in San Juan County… at least for now.
“‘Outrageous’ Gold Rush-Style Grab of Public Lands to Begin Friday” screamed EcoWatch.
“Our Public Lands FOR SALE to Big Energy” said the Sierra Club.

A federal government shutdown over the past weekend has slowed the already snail-like pace in the US House of Representatives, where a bill has been introduced to formalize changes to Bears Ears National Monument.
H.R. 4532, the Shash Jaa National Monument and Indian Creek National Monument Act, was introduced by Rep. John Curtis on January 9.

A bill to formalize the creation of Bears Ears National Monument has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Congressman John Curtis.
Curtis states that House Resolution 4532 would create the first tribally-managed national monument. The bill would create a clear management role for tribes in the monument, rather than the advisory role currently set for the tribal groups involved with the monument.

On December 4, 2017, President Donald Trump issued Proclamation 9681 modifying the boundary of the Bears Ears National Monument to the smallest area compatible with the proper care and management of important objects of historic and scientific interest.

by Bill Boyle, San Juan Record Editor
The possibility of energy exploration activities within the prior boundaries of Bears Ears National Monument is becoming a national issue, even while many local residents question if there are actual on-the-ground realities to support the controversy.

Preliminary maps are still all that are available, but the boundaries of the new monuments are starting to be understood.
Indian Creek National MonumentThe new Indian Creek National Monument includes a total of 86,447 acres of land, including nearly 5,000 acres of private ground. There are approximately 15 640-acre
sections of Trust Lands within the monument.

As promised, a host of lawsuits have been filed in federal court after the December 4 decision by President Donald Trump to reduce Bears Ears National Monument.
No less than three lawsuits were filed regarding Bears Ears and two more were filed regarding the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument.
All five lawsuits were filed in the federal district court in Washington, D.C.

The December 4 executive order by President Donald Trump to rescind Bears Ears National Monument and create two smaller monuments may trigger significant changes for a Bluff-based nonprofit organization.
Friends of Cedar Mesa (FCM) took two actions in the past week, including filing a lawsuit in federal court against the recent changes in the monument and starting a fundraising effort to create a private “visitor center” in Bluff.

There are significant management changes for more than one million acres of public land in San Juan County after a presidential proclamation by President Donald Trump on December 4.
Instead of a 1.35-million acre Bears Ears National Monument, there are now two smaller national monuments in San Juan County, including the Indian Creek and the Shash Jaa national monuments.

For the second time in less than a year, a presidential signature has made significant changes to San Juan County. On December 4, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order that changed Bears Ears National Monument and created two additional, separate national monuments in San Juan County.

Rebecca Benally was a featured speaker at the Utah State Capital Building when President Trump signed the executive order. Her speech follows:
When Bears Ears National Monument was designated, it was a disheartening day for my communities and San Juan County citizens. A total of 1.35 million acres – an area larger than Rhode Island and Delaware – was now locked up with limited to no access; an area in our own back yard.

Two rallies took place on Saturday, December 2 that involved San Juan County residents and their response to the news that President Donald Trump was expected to significantly trim the boundaries of Bears Ears National Monument.
Dueling rallies were held by those both for and against the monument changes.
The events were in marked contrast to December 28, 2016, when Barack Obama created Bears Ears NM.

President Donald J. Trump“Our precious national treasures must be protected.  And they, from now on, will be protected.  Under my administration, we will advance that protection through a truly representative process, one that listens to the local communities that knows the land the best and that cherishes the land the most. 

The Deseret News is reporting that President Donald Trump will visit Salt Lake City on Monday, December 4 to announce reductions in the size of the Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments.
Many details are not yet known as the announcement was made at the San Juan Record print deadline. Check back here for more information as it becomes available.