Press Releases

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-ME), Chair of the House Appropriations Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Subcommittee, issued the following supportive statement regarding President Biden’s plan to restore protections for Northeast Canyons and Seamounts, Bears Ears, and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments:

“I applaud President Biden for reinstating protections for Northeast Canyons and Seamounts National Monument. It was foolish and short-sighted for the previous Administration to rollback protections for these waters,” said Congresswoman Chellie Pingree. “As Chair of the House Appropriations Interior Subcommittee, I’ve seen up-close the important steps the Biden Administration has taken to better steward our lands and waters so they are here for our kids and grandkids. With his actions today, President Biden will conserve 1.36 million acres in Bears Ears – including major sites that are culturally and spiritually important to Tribal Nations –and 1.87 million acres at Grand Staircase-Escalante where world-class geological artifacts can be enjoyed for generations to come.”

The specific actions that President Biden will take include:

• Restoring protections to the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument, as established by President Obama on September 15, 2016. 
• Restoring the Bears Ears National Monument to the boundaries established by President Obama on December 28, 2016 and retaining protections for an additional 11,200 acres added by President Trump in 2017. 
• Restoring Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument to the boundaries that were in place on January 20, 2017. 

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