Biden to restore protections for three national monuments

President Biden is expected to restore protections for the Bears Ears, Grand Staircase-Escalante and Northeast Canyons and Seamounts National Monuments on Friday, the Biden administration announced Thursday. The three monuments' protections had been scaled back during the Trump administration. 

"The President's protection of these three national monuments is among a series of steps the Administration has taken to restore protections to some of America's most cherished lands and waters, many of which are sacred to Tribal Nations," the White House said in a memo announcing the decision. The president is expected to sign three proclamations on Friday that will restore the protections. 

The statement cited national monument conservation as a key component of improving climate change, public health, the economy and wildlife preservation.