Campaign against Trumps threat to US national monuments gathers pace

[Beartracks]

Public comment period ends this Monday, July 10!

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For public comments: https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=DOI-2017-0002-0001

Dates
To ensure consideration, written comments relating to the Bears Ears National Monument must be submitted before May 26, 2017. Written comments relating to all other National Monuments must be submitted before July 10, 2017.

Addresses
You may submit written comments online at http://www.regulations.gov by entering “DOI-2017-0002” in the Search bar and clicking “Search,” or by mail to Monument Review, MS-1530, U.S. Department of the Interior, 1849 C Street NW., Washington, DC 20240.

For Further Information Contact
Randal Bowman, 202-208-1906, [e-mail].
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Campaign against Trump’s threat to US national monuments gathers pace

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A total of 27 parks in the US known as national monuments – which together account for more than 11 million acres of protected land in 11 mostly western states – are at risk of being reduced in size or losing their designation altogether following an unprecedented presidential order issued in April. Americans have until Monday to voice their opinions before the Interior Department makes its recommendations.

Among the monuments under consideration is Bears Ears in Utah, a 1.35-million acre area of stunning landscape harbouring 100,000 archaeological sites, many of which have never been studied. The land has been described as a “library of human history” and its cultural importance, not just to the US but worldwide, is the reason President Obama granted it national monument status in December 2016, following a campaign by a coalition of five local tribes. Now it is under threat.

Describing the creation of national monuments as “a massive federal land grab” that “should never have happened”, President Trump instructed Ryan Zinke, secretary of the interior to review 27 monuments of 100,000 acres or more created since 1996. A public consultation period ends on 10 July and secretary Zinke will make his recommendations in August.

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The fate of the parks is unknown - until Zinke makes his recommendations – but campaigners say that the president does not have the power to undo designated monuments. “We are working with legal experts. If they act unilaterally to reduce or alter the monuments, they are breaking the law,” said Kelly. Trump has framed the review as a move to give control of the land “back to the people”, but Kelly – and other campaigners – believe his actions are “tied to the fossil fuels agenda”. The Center for American Progress has done its own research into the natural resources within the threatened monuments and found significant oil and gas reserves which, she said, “may explain why there’s a target on them”.

More: https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2017/jul/07/us-national-monuments-threat-trump-presidential-order

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[logosoco]

1. This administration is so stupid and short sighted!!!!

Ugh! this is what happens when you put people who think gold lame is "classy" in charge!!!!