Utah's congressional delegation has asked President Obama not to use the Antiquities Act to create a Bears Ears National Monument in southeastern Utah.

In quick reaction to President Obama's use of the Antiquities Act to designate three national monuments in California, members of Utah's congressional delegation have asked the president specifically not to use his powers under that Act to designate a monument in southeastern Utah.

Interior Department officials announced late Thursday that the president would designate Castle Mountains National Monument, Sand to Snow National Monument, and Mojave Trails National Monument in California, and made a point of noting that there was great local support for the designations. Supporters of protecting these areas include local counties and cities, area business groups, tribes, hunters, anglers, faith-based organizations, recreationists, local land trusts and conservation groups, and students from local schools, the release said.

By midday Friday the Utah delegation announced that it had sent a letter to the president "expressing strong opposition to the use of the Antiquities Act to create a national monument within San Juan County."

The land in question, some 1.9 million acres, has been discussed as a potential national monument for some time. While Native American tribes have wanted to see establishment of a Bears Ears National Monument, U.S. Reps. Rob Bishop and Jason Chaffetz, both Utah Republicans, have proposed a 1.2-million-acre Bears Ears National Conservation Area. 

In their letter to the president -- signed by Sens. Orin Hatch and Mike Lee, and Reps. Bishop, Chaffetz, Stewart, and Mia Love -- the delegation stated that "(F)ederal land-use policy has a major impact on the lives of those residing within and near federal lands. We believe the wisest land-use decisions are made with community involvement and local support. This principle is true whether skyscrapers or sagebrush surround the community.

“Use of the Antiquities Act within will be met with fierce local opposition and will further polarize federal land-use discussions for years, if not decades. We believe the wisest land-use decisions are made with community involvement and local support. This principle is true whether skyscrapers or sagebrush surround a community. Use of the Antiquities Act within will be met with fierce local opposition and will further polarize federal land-use discussions for years, if not decades."