Over a year ago Mother Jones Press wrote: “The feds need $11.5 billion to fix our public lands.” While Congress was buying all that new federal land, old national parks are wasting away.

Evidently, the Obama administration and environmental powerhouse lobbies don’t care about maintaining national treasures, just gaining them. Zero credibility is what federal government gets when sites are closed or mismanaged by lack of funding.

Public lands in San Juan County, Utah, are already “managed” by the Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service. Some parts of the proposed Bears Ears National Monument are wilderness. But none of these agencies have the funds to adequately do their job. Why, all of a sudden, do people think a national anything will do a better job of protection – especially when the designated property holder is already over $18 trillion in debt?

In spite of lack of manpower, Secretary Jewell was dazzled by the “pristine” settings she encountered when she visited Bears Ears area last month. County residents in cooperation with existing guidelines and permit uses have done a great job of stewardship. If you don’t believe it, come visit the Abajo Mountains. You can hike, bike, rock climb, picnic and enjoy solitude – something you’ll be sure to miss should San Juan County become a designated tourist attraction in the national park-monument circuit. (Should they happen to stay solvent. If not, who knows what country will own the land.)

Say “No” to Bears Ears National Monument.

Janet Wilcox

Blanding