Review Comment Relative to Uranium Mining

To the alarmists claiming that Bears Ears Monument will be turned into a drilling/ mining mecca if rescinded and turned back to the state: It just isn't so. (See attached map.) Very little oil exists in those areas. Plus you fail to factor in, that Southern Utah citizens love having public land for all the things they've been doing for hundreds of years. Neither Native nor Anglo locals want to give that up. 

However, be aware that during the 50's - 60's San Juan county was blessed with abundance of uranium, and the results of the boom, although some consider it temporary, built two new high schools, new elementary schools, a hospital, and paved roads throughout the county. This was done through the increased tax revenues. It is hard to have a solid tax base without use of private land and our county has only 8% to work with. Give us a break! We still use most of those schools today, and some need replacing. But our tax base is significantly less. What if today's restrictions would have been in place then?

It is time for the Antiquities Act to stop being the play maker in the game of land grabs by environmental groups. All states should be sovereign and have the ability to bless the well being of their citizens. We should not be treated as pawns, by heavy handed NGO's with ulterior motives.