NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump will shrink the size of two national monuments in Utah, U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch of Utah said on Friday, opening more land to drilling and mining over objections by Native Americans living nearby.

The two Utah sites, Bears Ears National Monument and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument are among several U.S. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke recommended shrinking in order to make way for more industrial activity on the land they occupy.

"I was incredibly grateful the President called this morning to let us know that he is approving Secretary Zinke's recommendation on Bears Ears," Hatch said in a statement emailed to Reuters. His spokesman Matt Whitlock, who said in an email he had listened to Hatch's conversation with Trump, said Trump told Hatch he was approving shrinking the two monuments "for you, Orrin."

And then we have this:

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah—Senator Orrin Hatch has privately told allies in Utah that he is planning to retire at the end of his term next year, and if he does, Mitt Romney intends to run for his seat, according to five sources familiar with the situation.
 

Last edited by Just Fred (10/27/2017 3:12 pm)