Trump administration defends Obamas Atlantic monument

[jpak]

https://www.pressherald.com/2018/04/17/trump-administration-defends-obamas-atlantic-monument/

PORTLAND — The Trump administration on Tuesday defended an underwater monument established by former President Barack Obama to protect marine life in the Atlantic Ocean and asked a judge to dismiss a lawsuit from fishermen trying to eliminate it.

The fishing groups sued in federal court in Washington, challenging the creation of the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument by the Democratic former president in 2016. It’s a 5,000-square-mile area off of New England that contains fragile deep sea corals and vulnerable species of marine life, such as right whales.

The Commerce Department argues the president has clear authority under the federal Antiquities Act to establish national monuments. The federal government is defending the monument at the same time it’s reviewing its creation as part of Republican President Donald Trump’s review of several monuments created by Obama.

Marine national monuments are underwater areas designed to protect unique or vulnerable ecosystems. There are four of them in the Pacific. The Northeast monument, the only one off the East Coast, is also an area where fishermen harvest lobsters, crabs and other aquatic commodities.

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[underthematrix]

1. Are Russian subs in the area

[enough]

2. I wonder what implications this may have for challenges to Trump administration

overturning Obama’s National Monuments like Bears Ears.