On Monday, President Donald Trump enacted orders that significantly diminish the areas of two national monuments in Utah. The Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, originally 1.87 million acres, is cut down to approximately 181,500 acres.
This decision involves the Grand Staircase-Escalante and Bears Ears monuments. The move could allow for mineral, oil, and gas exploration in what were previously protected wilderness areas.
The orders potentially impact lands that hold significant cultural and historical value for Native American tribes. These areas have been preserved for their ecological and archaeological importance.