Several Arizona lawmakers and Utah ranchers sued the feds yesterday over the creation of the new Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument in northern Arizona. The plaintiffs are asking the court to find unconstitutional the 1906 Antiquities Act, which Pres. Clinton used to create the new monument earlier this month. Since 1906, all but three presidents have used their authority granted under the act to protect federally owned scenic and historic lands without having to obtain approval from Congress. The plaintiffs are seeking an injunction prohibiting the creation of the new monument, which encompasses more than 1 million acres, roughly the same amount of land as Grand Canyon National Park.
