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Utah County commissioners adopt resolution opposing perceived abuse of Antiquities Act
Summary
The commission voted to adopt a resolution backing federal reform of the Antiquities Act to require consultation with local jurisdictions before declaring national monuments; the resolution cites concerns about large-scale monument declarations in Utah and names a federal bill by Rep. Celeste Maloy (as spoken).
The Utah County Board of Commissioners voted Feb. 19 to adopt a resolution opposing what the commissioners described as misuse or overreach of the Antiquities Act when presidents declare large national monuments without local consultation.
A commissioner presenting the item said the resolution was prompted by what he described as a pattern over the past two decades of presidents declaring large monuments that, in his view, “eat up tens of thousands of acres” and interfere with agriculture, recreation and local commerce. He said a member of Utah’s congressional delegation has introduced federal legislation to require that monument declarations be formed in conjunction with local jurisdictions; on the record the transcript names the member of Congress as Celeste Maloy.
The presenting commissioner said the intent of the county resolution was to support congressional reform so any presidential monument declarations affecting Utah County would involve local jurisdictions and not impose unexpected land-use restrictions. A motion to approve the resolution was seconded and the board adopted it by voice vote.
The transcript does not include text of the resolution or information about potential legal or fiscal consequences of the county’s position. No public comment on the item was recorded.
