The Outdoor Retailers expo opened in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, with an endorsement of the designation of the Bears Ears National Monument in southeast Utah.
The proposed monument would encompass 1.9 million acres in mostly San Juan County, Utah. Utah Senator Mike Lee was quick to respond to the call by the outdoor retailers.
“The people of San Juan County want to preserve the natural beauty and conserve the ecosystem of Bears Ears more than anyone, but they want to do so in a way that protects and promotes economic opportunities within their county, which is the poorest in the state of Utah.”
Bears Ears has become the latest battle ground in the public lands debate. While polls show a majority of Utahns favor the move, Utah’s governor and congressional delegation have voiced their opposition to the designation.
