Monday’s report in the Washington Post further proves that the Trump administration’s national monument review has been a predetermined exercise from the very beginning, designed to prioritize extractive uses of protected public lands and waters. It is clear that the Department of the Interior repeatedly ignored science, public opinion, local economic benefits, cultural resources and all other available evidence to arrive at recommendations to eliminate protections for national monuments.
Washington, DC -- Today, Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, who is facing numerous investigations, announced that his Department will no longer require fossil fuel companies to pay into environmental restoration funds which offset development on public lands.In response, Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune released the following statement:
Salt Lake City -- Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke is scheduled to visit Salt Lake City tonight where he’ll be participating in Pioneer Day celebrations. His visit comes just a day after news broke that the Interior Department ignored the benefits of public lands in their review of national monuments-- a review that ultimately led to the illegal elimination of Bears Ears National Monument and significant reductions in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. In advance of Zinke’s visit, Utahns are taking to social media to oppose Zinke’s efforts to sell out public lands using #…
Internal Interior Department documents publicized today by the
PHOENIX -- Rep. Gosar (R-AZ) has introduced an amendment to an Interior Department funding bill that would withhold funding to manage Ironwood Forest National Monument, de-facto stripping the area and its resources of protections afforded by the monument.
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, Rep. Lujan Grisham introduced legislation to safeguard and enhance national monuments. The America’s Natural Treasures of Immeasurable Quality Unite, Inspire, and Together Improve the Economies of States (ANTIQUITIES) Act is the House companion to Sen. Udall’s bill already introduced in the Senate.
“The Handmaid’s Tale” actress joins Sierra Club Outing
Denver, CO-- According to AP, today, in response to mounting public pressure against the sellout of public lands for dirty fuels, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced that the agency will defer the lease sale near Great Sand Dunes National Park and in the Huerfano River Valley Community until it consults further with the Navajo Nation.
The Government Accountability Office today sent a letter, released by U.S.
Rapid City, South Dakota -- A crowd of concerned residents gathered today downtown to protest Interior Secretary Zinke’s failed public lands policies, including his efforts to reopen the Southwest Black Hills to toxic uranium mining. If allowed to move forward, the proposed mine would hand over more than 10,000 acres of land to radioactive and destructive mining, much of it subject to Bureau of Land Management mineral claims.