www.nytimes.com/…
in a move that will reverse the damage wrought by Trump in 2017, Biden is expected to sign proclamations tomorrow afternoon bringing Bears Ears back to 1.35M acres in size and Grand Staircase Escalante back to 1.88M acres in size. In addition, he is also reversing Trump’s moves to allow commercial fishing within the Northeastern Canyons and Seamounts Monument off of New England. Personally I’m glad for this move, the reductions should have never happened in the first place. what the move will do to the court cases challenging the 2017 reductions is hard to say, imo they shouldn’t be mooted because of this action, because the initial action by Trump and the initial recommendation by Zinke was illegal. Per section 204(j) of the Federal Land Policy and management Act, the interior secretary is barred from making any changes to existing monuments. This includes recommending they be shrunk, as Zinke did.
For now though, its time to celebrate Biden making good on his promise.