First this from the U.S. Department of the Interior:
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke sent a draft report to the president which included his findings and recommendations on national monuments that were under review as a result of the April 26, 2017 executive order. The report summary can be read here. The extensive 120-day review included more than 60 meetings with hundreds of advocates and opponents of monument designations, tours of monuments conducted over air, foot, car, and horseback (including a virtual tour of a marine monument), and a thorough review of more than 2.4 million public comments submitted to the Department on regulations.gov. Additionally, countless more meetings and conversations between senior Interior officials and local, state, Tribal, and non-government stakeholders including multiple Tribal listening sessions.
The review was initiated by President Trump in order to restore trust in the multiple-use mission of the Department and to give rural communities a voice in federal land management decisions. In order to make the process transparent and give local residents and stakeholders a voice, the Secretary announced on May 5, 2017 the opening up of a formal comment period for the review, as the President directed. This was the first time ever that a formal comment period was open on regulations.gov for national monuments designated under the Antiquities Act.
“No President should use the authority under the Antiquities Act to restrict public access, prevent hunting and fishing, burden private land, or eliminate traditional land uses, unless such action is needed to protect the object,” said Secretary Zinke.“The recommendations I sent to the president on national monuments will maintain federal ownership of all federal land and protect the land under federal environmental regulations, and also provide a much needed change for the local communities who border and rely on these lands for hunting and fishing, economic development, traditional uses, and recreation.”
While traveling across the country, Secretary Zinke met with hundreds of local stakeholders and heard concerns about some national monuments negatively impacting things like local revenue from federal lands, agriculture, private property rights, public access to land, traditional Tribal uses of the land, and timber harvesting.
Over the 120-day review, Secretary Zinke visited eight national monument sites in six states:
Secretary Zinke Sends Monument Report to the White House
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke sent a draft report to the president which included his findings and recommendations on national monuments that were under review as a result of the April 26, 2017 executive order. The report summary can be read here. The extensive 120-day review included more than 60 meetings with hundreds of advocates and opponents of monument designations, tours of monuments conducted over air, foot, car, and horseback (including a virtual tour of a marine monument), and a thorough review of more than 2.4 million public comments submitted to the Department on regulations.gov. Additionally, countless more meetings and conversations between senior Interior officials and local, state, Tribal, and non-government stakeholders including multiple Tribal listening sessions.
The review was initiated by President Trump in order to restore trust in the multiple-use mission of the Department and to give rural communities a voice in federal land management decisions. In order to make the process transparent and give local residents and stakeholders a voice, the Secretary announced on May 5, 2017 the opening up of a formal comment period for the review, as the President directed. This was the first time ever that a formal comment period was open on regulations.gov for national monuments designated under the Antiquities Act.
“No President should use the authority under the Antiquities Act to restrict public access, prevent hunting and fishing, burden private land, or eliminate traditional land uses, unless such action is needed to protect the object,” said Secretary Zinke.“The recommendations I sent to the president on national monuments will maintain federal ownership of all federal land and protect the land under federal environmental regulations, and also provide a much needed change for the local communities who border and rely on these lands for hunting and fishing, economic development, traditional uses, and recreation.”
While traveling across the country, Secretary Zinke met with hundreds of local stakeholders and heard concerns about some national monuments negatively impacting things like local revenue from federal lands, agriculture, private property rights, public access to land, traditional Tribal uses of the land, and timber harvesting.
Over the 120-day review, Secretary Zinke visited eight national monument sites in six states:
- Bears Ears (UT)
- Grand Staircase Escalante (UT)
- Katahdin Woods and Waters (ME)
- Northeast Canyons and Seamounts
- Cascade Siskiyou (OR & CA)
- Organ Mountain Desert-Peaks (NM)
- Basin and Range (NV)
- Gold Butte (NV)
- Craters of the Moon
- Hanford Reach
- Upper Missouri River Breaks
- Grand Canyon-Parashant
- Canyons of the Ancients
- Sand to Snow
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Then Hoyer's response, with which I concur. These big money special interests can't wait to get their hands on the commons so they can rape and pillage.
Hoyer Statement on the Trump Administration's Decision to Shut Down Vast Portions of Public Lands and National Monuments |
WASHINGTON, DC – House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (MD) released the following statement today after Department of Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke announced recommendations to shut down vast portions of a number of public lands and national monuments across the country: “Today’s announcement by the Department of the Interior represents an abdication of this Administration’s responsibility to serve as stewards of our public lands and national monuments for current and future generations. Earlier this year, I joined with Democratic leaders in the House and Senate to urge Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke to reject efforts to shrink or eliminate national monuments, and I continue to oppose any changes that roll back protections for these great open spaces meant for the enjoyment of all Americans to explore, fish, hunt, and seek communion with nature. “Shutting down America’s public lands and national monuments is deeply unpopular, and the economic impact of doing so is substantial. I also continue to stand with Native American tribes in the fight to preserve their access to the lands that have sustained them for generations. All of us who call this great country our home have a duty to preserve it for generations to come, and I urge President Trump not to make any of the changes the Secretary of the Interior is recommending.” |