Washington • San Juan County is seeking to intervene in a lawsuit over the dismantling of the Bears Ears National Monument, arguing that the county should be a party to the case because overturning President Donald Trump’s order to split the monument would hurt the region’s economy by tamping down mining, logging and grazing.
The county filed court papers Tuesday to join the case as a defendant and fight the lawsuits filed by environmental groups and tribes who contend Trump’s actions were illegal.
“The county is enjoying the economic and cultural benefits of increased access to federally controlled land for productive uses such as mining, logging, and livestock grazing,” the county said in the filing.