Court Says BLM Must Disclose Development Near Utah Monument Tracts

"The Trump administration will soon be required to more fully disclose any potential development or other activities on millions of acres of public lands excised from a pair of national monuments in Utah.

Plaintiffs in the legal battle over President Trump's cuts to the Grand Staircase-Escalante and Bears Ears national monuments told E&E News yesterday that federal Judge Tanya Chutkan agreed to 'fine-tune' an order requiring the Interior Department to share information about activities on the previously protected lands.

'She seemed to understand and appreciate what the concerns were,' said Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA) Legal Director Stephen Bloch, who participated in yesterday's joint status hearing for both lawsuits (Greenwire, Oct. 1). Chutkan has yet to file the updated order.

Under the original mandate issued by the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia in October 2018, Interior officials are required to notify opponents of any 'ground-disturbing activities' within the original boundaries of both monuments."

Jennifer Yachnin reports for Greenwire October 8, 2019.

Source: Greenwire, 10/09/2019