Obama creates national monuments in Utah, Nevada

President Obama protected two massive areas in the American West on Wednesday, including a swath of southern Utah that has been at the center of a contentious battle over land protections for years. The areas newly protected from development and various activities are the Bears Ears National Monument in Utah and the Gold Butte National Monument in Nevada. Both areas are owned by the federal Bureau of Land Management. The actions further cement the aggressive conservation legacy of Obama, who has protected more land and water than any other president under the Antiquities Act. But the designations are among the most controversial undo Obama, with strong opposition among local and state leaders. Obama created the designations using his unilateral authority under the Antiquities Act, acting with just about three weeks left before President-elect Donald Trump takes office. It’s unclear if Trump could unilaterally undo Obama’s designations, because it has never been tried before. Some Republicans, including House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Rob Bishop (R-Utah), say it is within Trump’s power, though the Obama administration says the Antiquities Act does not allow monument designations to be undone. But the controversy surrounding Wednesday's actions, combined with Obama’s aggressive use of his Antiquities Act power, could lead Congress to roll back the protections or limit future presidents’ powers...Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) slammed Obama’s decision. “This arrogant act by a lame duck president will not stand,” Lee tweeted Wednesday. “I will work tirelessly with Congress & incoming Trump administration to honor the will of Utahns and undo this monument designation,” he added...more