Protesters call national park plan for Utah monument a ploy

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Environmental groups on Tuesday blasted a legislative proposal by U.S. Rep. Chris Stewart that would create a small national park within the recently downsized Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, calling it nothing more than a ruse to try to appease conservationists and open more land for mining and grazing.

"This proposal is really an insidious, cynical ploy to undo the protections that we feel are critical," said David Nimkin of the National Parks Conservation Association.

Nimkin and others spoke to reporters at the Utah State Capitol with about 150 people standing behind them holding signs that said, "Coal kills," ''Stop Stewart's theft" and "Stewart's park is a dirty trick, give us back our monuments.