Jacob Stern (617) 423-5775 or jacob.stern@sierraclub.org
Boston, MA-- Last night, a leaked Department of the Interior report made public by the Washington Post unveiled the appalling truth behind Secretary Zinke’s public land and waters recommendations. The document’s vague, yet startling recommendations call for a shrinking and fragmentation of Northeast Canyons and Seamounts in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Massachusetts. The recommendations signal a complete disregard for more than 2.8 million public comments -- 98% urging to maintain the current and future protections for national monuments across the country.
In response, Jacob Stern Organizer at Sierra Club Massachusetts Chapter issued the following statement:
“Northeast Canyons and Seamounts is the lifeline for a ton of ocean life and endangered sea corals, but their protection is under threat twofold: proposed drilling off the East Coast and this unprecedented possibility of shrunken protection.
“Allowing commercial fishing on a marine monument speaks to the hypocritical and uninformed approach of this administration.
“Efforts to remove critical land and wildlife protections is part of an extreme political agenda which is detrimental to our communities, this region’s economy, and sealife."
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3 million members and supporters. In addition to helping people from all backgrounds explore nature and our outdoor heritage, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.