These southern Utah sites were once off-limits to development. Now, Trump will auction the right to drill and graze there.
Bears Ears contains tens of thousands of cultural artifacts and rare rock art. In the rock layers of Grand Staircase, researchers have unearthed 75 million-year-old dinosaur fossils. ADUnder the plan, much of Bears Ears and nearly 1 million acres in and around Grand Staircase are open to grazing. BLM will also make two new routes in Grand Staircase open to off-road vehicles, which archaeologists and conservationists are concerned could damage vulnerable artifacts and natural features. In developing the plan for Bears Ears and Grand Staircase, Hammond said, the BLM consulted with Native American tribes and considered thousands of public comments.
Source: Washington Post February 06, 2020 16:24 UTC
