Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke seems hell-bent on selling out U.S. public lands to the fossil fuel industry. His dangerous dirty fuels-first agenda threatens the health of our communities, our environment, and our climate. Safeguards for people, places, and wildlife are being swept aside in his foolhardy rush to mine and drill every possible acre.
At risk is a wealth of natural wonders -- spectacular vistas, majestic wildlife, and hidden springs. These public lands protect a history we’re still uncovering and carry a cultural importance that continues to resonate today. They’re deeply connected with the health and well-being of local communities, and they’re also becoming increasingly intertwined with a healthy economy.
To make matters worse, Zinke’s dirty fuels-first agenda will have a profoundly negative effect on our climate. Greenhouse gas pollution from oil, gas, and coal on public lands is significant. In fact, if our public lands were a country, it would rank fifth in the world for total emissions.
We must stop the rampant leasing, mining, and drilling on public lands. I am inspired to see the huge number of western U.S. residents opposing his plans every step of the way.
Earlier this spring, the Interior Department’s Bureau of Land Management (BLM) held its first lease sale of 2018, which included parcels outside Bears Ears, Hovenweep, and Arches national parks. Sierra Club Utah activists and partners like Utah Dine-Bikeyah turned out to oppose the sale and raise awareness. Activists are now preparing for the next lease sale this month -- which will include public lands just outside of Capitol Reef National Park. So far, our amazing team has collected hundreds of comments opposing that lease sale.
We’re particularly focused on protecting Bears Ears National Monument (photographed so beautifully above by Tim Peterson), which Trump and Zinke have moved to effectively eliminate. Bears Ears is home to numerous sacred Tribal sites, and activists are joining with the affected Tribal nations to call for sustained permanent protection for the region. That included helping a facilitate a trip for U.S. Representative Ruben Gallego to see Bears Ears with Utah Dine-Bikeyah members and Sierra Club representatives.
Representative Gallego was so moved by what he experienced that he’s become one of the monument’s biggest champions in Congress -- penning a column and introducing HR4518, which would permanently designate the full 1.9 million acres the Bears Ears Intertribal Coalition initially proposed for monument status.
Meanwhile in Colorado, oil and gas leases are threatening public lands near Browns Canyon National Monument and Great Sand Dunes National Park. In a September oil and gas lease sale, the BLM is proposing to lease more than 18,000 acres on the eastern border of Great Sand Dunes National Park, directly abutting the Sangre de Cristo Wilderness. Our powerful coalition there has generated thousands of comments to Secretary Zinke and the BLM opposing these lease sales.
The Sierra Club will not let up in this defense of public lands. With new lease sales planned across the country every three months (regardless of need or public return on investment) we will continue to work with Tribal nations and local coalitions to protect sacred sites. Join us.