The President Joe Biden is scheduled to sign proclamations by Friday, to reverse former President Donald Trump's rollbacks of two national monuments in Utah most likely to restore their boundaries to their former ones and reinstituting more robust security.
The long-anticipated decision that was first announced via The Salt Lake Tribune and later confirmed Thursday by the office of Utah Governor. Spencer Cox (R), follows one year following the day that Vice President Joe Biden and Speaker of the House Kamala Harris released Biden and vice president Kamala Harris made public their plans for tribal nations.
This plan also included a pledge to "take immediate measures to reverse the Trump administration's attacks at America's most treasured natural resources" which included orders that dramatically diminished The Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national parks.
In 2017 Trump cut over 2 million acres of Utah. Utah areas -- which was the biggest erosion of federal protections for land within U.S. history. The border to Bears Ears, a 1.35 million-acre site that is sacred to many Native American tribes, was cut by 85 percent. The adjacent 1.87 million-acre Grand Staircase-Escalante is the largest National monument to land in the United States with paleontological and archeological resourceswas cut roughly in half.
In recent days, Native American tribes and environmental groups have been discontent with Biden for what they perceive as a lack of action. In an sept. 22 letter addressed to Biden the Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition, composed of the five Native American tribes that petitioned the Obama administration to create Bears Ears, called on Biden to take "immediate actions" to restore the monument and extend its boundaries.
"We have attempted to remain patient, respectful and understanding while we wait for your decision regarding restoration. But, if actions are not taken, serious damage, a lot more permanent occurs on this sacred area," wrote coalition co-chairs Clark Tenakhongva, vice chairman of the Hopi Tribe, and Henry Stevens Jr. Henry Stevens Jr. is one of the representatives from the Navajo Nation.
A plethora of progressive groups submitted their own letters on Thursday, expressing their support for the demands of the coalition.
State Republicans However were quick to denounce Biden's impending decision.
"Yet again the national monuments of Utah serve as political game among administrations" Senator. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) stated in a tweet posted to Twitter.
The White House declined to comment to HuffPost regarding Biden's upcoming actions.
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