Interior Secretary Sally Jewell tours southern Utah ruins

U.S. Interior Secretary Sally Jewell is touring archaeological sites in southeast Utah that a coalition of tribes and environmental groups want to see protected as a new national monument.

Jewell on Friday was in the city of Monticello and hiked out to nearby ancient cliff dwellings as part of a research trip to hear from those who support and oppose creating a monument in the Bears Ears area.

Supporters say the 1.9 million-acre area includes sacred Native American sites that needs bolstered protections and are pushing for President Barack Obama to designate it as a monument.

Utah Republican officials and local officials say a monument would be overly broad and would close the area for development and recreation.

The U.S. Interior Department says Jewell’s visit doesn’t mean a monument decision is imminent.