Conservation groups and multiple Tribal Nations have filed a motion to intervene in lawsuits challenging the restoration of the Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments of Utah.
Heidi McIntosh, managing attorney for Earthjustice—who is representing the conservation groups—filed a motion to intervene to protect the current monument borders after the state of Utah filed suit, stating President Joe Biden exceeded his authority under the Antiquities Act.
On Oct. 8, Biden issued two proclamations to restore protections to the Bears Ears National Monument and the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument after then-President Donald Trump rolled back the boundaries in 2017.
“These lawsuits seek to destroy the Antiquities Act with a flawed argument that presidents may only designate small monuments,” McIntosh said. “The Supreme Court has recognized for one hundred years that the Antiquities Act gives the president broad authority to designate national monuments commensurate in size to the ‘objects’ that need protection.”
