Bears Ears National Monument

The survey comes days before a ban on new mining claims within the monuments is set to expire.

The environmental groups argue Trump’s slashing of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments is illegal.

Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments were slashed by President Trump last month, opening them up to new mining claims.

“He went for the jugular on this one,” a member of the Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah told KNAU about Trump's national monument cuts. At risk are sacred sites and plants in Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments.

Trump’s reduction of the national monuments by about 90% comes over the objections of tribal nations and conservation groups.

President Donald Trump has slashed the size of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments in souther Utah by about 90%, unraveling protections established by former presidents.

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum has ordered federal officials to review and consider redrawing the boundaries of national monuments created under previous presidents to protect unique landscapes and cultural resources.

Native American tribes and conservation groups are pressing President Joe Biden to designate more national monuments before he leaves office next month.

Conservation groups worry President-elect Donald Trump could attempt to rollback some national monuments, as he did in his first term.

State Republican leaders have asked a federal appeal court to roll back two national monuments in Utah as they plan to file their own lawsuit over a new monument at the Grand Canyon.