Governor Gary Herbert told reporters today at his monthly news conference that he plans to sign the resolution against creating a Bears Ears National Monument. He also indicated he will continue working with the Obama Administration on the issue.
Governor Herbert said the non-binding resolution passed by legislature on Wednesday night sends a clear message to the Obama Administration, that Utah doesn’t want Bears Ears to become a national monument. But he also believes the resolution won’t jeopardize his efforts to communicate with the president and Interior Secretary Sally Jewel on the matter. Herbert cited an incident that happened two decades ago, when then-President Bill Clinton gave Utah leaders very little notice before designating the Grand Staircase-Escalante as a National Monument using authority under the Antiquities Act. The governor doesn’t want that to happen with land at Bears Ears.
“Well we’re certainly trying to force the issue, and be proactive, and say ‘listen to us’ and the President has said, and I’ve heard it from Secretary of Interior Sally Jewell, we have no intent to do what the Clinton administration did,” Herbert said.
Interior Secretary Jewell plans to visit Utah this summer. Herbert said he’s invited President Obama and others to come to the state as well
