Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes will sue President Barack Obama for designating over 1.6 million acres as national monument land, he said Wednesday, according to The Hill.
Obama designated land in Utah and Nevada, including the Bears Ears area in southeastern Utah, as national monuments, which would protect two areas that are rich in Native American artifacts from mining, oil and gas drilling.
"My office is working closely with the governor's office, federal and state legislators, and San Juan County to file a lawsuit challenging this egregious overreach by the Obama administration. This case is different from other past challenges by states and counties and we are confident in our chances of success," Reyes said.
The attorney general added, "The courtroom is not our only option. Our federal delegation is working hard to defund the designation or rescind it altogether. Additionally, we look forward to working with the new presidential administration on ways to curtail or otherwise address the designation."
UtahPolicy posted poll results in which most said they are in favor of the designation. When asked if President-elect Donald Trump should reverse the order:
- Definitely not: 29 percent.
- Probably not: 17 percent.
- Probably undo it: 14 percent.
- Definitely undo it: 26 percent.
- Don't know: 14 percent.
Utah Sen. Mike Lee blasted Obama's decision, according to the UtahPolicy report. "This arrogant act by a lame duck president will not stand," Lee said.
In the Salt Lake Tribune, White House Council on Environmental Quality Managing Director Christy Goldfuss said, "We are not concerned about a backlash about this designation, given the support for the location and the value and the cultural significance of this place."
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