In an outcome that is not surprising, but still good news, Utah’s attempts to overturn President Biden’s October 2021 moves to return Bears Ears and Grand staircase Escalante to pre-Trump size have been shot down by a federal district court. Biden undid Trump’s December 2017 reductions, restoring Bears Ears from 200000 acres to 1.35 million acres, then retained Trump’s addition of 11000 acres and brought Grand Staircase Escalante back from 1 million acres to 1.87 million. the judge held that Biden’s decision was a valid use of his authority , and not subject to judicial review. this is the second time Utah has tried to overturn Grand Staircase Escalante, following 2004s Utah Association of counties v Bush, which upheld Clinton’s initial designation of 1.7 million acres as a valid use of his authority. This is very good news.