Monuments on Arizona Strip focus of court hearing

Resource management plans for two national monuments on the Arizona Strip are being challenged in federal appeals court.Conservation groups sued the U.S. Bureau of Land Management in 2009, alleging the plans conflict with presidential proclamations establishing Grand Canyon-Parashant and Vermilion Cliffs national monuments. The U.S. District Court in Arizona ruled against the groups in their bid to have the BLM revise the plans to prohibit off-road motor vehicle use. The 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals heard oral arguments on the groups' appeal Thursday. The BLM says it has complied with the proclamations by limiting motor vehicle use to designated roads. The appellate court did not issue an immediate ruling Thursday. Conservationists say the case is among the first challenging the adequacy of resource plans for monuments under the BLM's control. AP