Gov. Doug Ducey is threatening legal action if President Obama sets aside public lands in Arizona for a new Greater Grand Canyon Heritage National Monument.

The governor's action comes on the heels of the president, earlier this week, setting aside 1.35 million acres in the Four Corners area of Utah for the Bears Ears National Monument.

That move had been urged by conservationists and Native American tribes who consider the land sacred.

But Ducey is urging Obama not to try the same thing here in Arizona in the area around Grand Canyon National Park believed to be rich in uranium deposits.

"I think the governor wants to strike the right balance between not negatively impacting our state and preserving our natural resources, and believes that we're doing a great job right now and we've struck that balance," said Daniel Scarpinato, the governor's spokesperson.

Obama also created the Gold Butte National Monument near Las Vegas, designed to protect an area that includes rock art, artifacts and fossils.