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Planned Changes to National Monuments Are Kept Under Wraps Planned Changes to National Monuments Are Kept Under Wraps
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BEARS EARS NATIONAL MONUMENT, Utah — The future of this sprawling region of red-rock canyons was left in question on Thursday when Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke sent recommendations for 27 national monuments under federal review to President Trump, but did not make the recommendations public.BEARS EARS NATIONAL MONUMENT, Utah — The future of this sprawling region of red-rock canyons was left in question on Thursday when Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke sent recommendations for 27 national monuments under federal review to President Trump, but did not make the recommendations public.
Environmentalists, ranchers, tribal governments and Western lawmakers had been watching closely to see if Mr. Zinke would propose changing the borders of Bears Ears National Monument to reopen some of its 1.35 million acres to new mining and drilling.Environmentalists, ranchers, tribal governments and Western lawmakers had been watching closely to see if Mr. Zinke would propose changing the borders of Bears Ears National Monument to reopen some of its 1.35 million acres to new mining and drilling.
Shrinking the monument would be widely seen as a direct blow to former President Barack Obama’s environmental legacy, and would probably prompt the first major legal test of a century-old conservation law.Shrinking the monument would be widely seen as a direct blow to former President Barack Obama’s environmental legacy, and would probably prompt the first major legal test of a century-old conservation law.
Mr. Zinke was believed to be leaning toward such a step. But he declined on Thursday to announce specifically what he had proposed for Bears Ears or the other monuments under review.Mr. Zinke was believed to be leaning toward such a step. But he declined on Thursday to announce specifically what he had proposed for Bears Ears or the other monuments under review.
In announcing that he had sent his report to Mr. Trump, Mr. Zinke referred to his recommendations only in general terms, saying they would “provide a much needed change for the local communities who border and rely on these lands.”In announcing that he had sent his report to Mr. Trump, Mr. Zinke referred to his recommendations only in general terms, saying they would “provide a much needed change for the local communities who border and rely on these lands.”
In Billings. Mont., on Thursday morning for a briefing on wildfires, Mr. Zinke told The Associated Press that he would recommend changes to a “handful” of monuments, and would not suggest that any be eliminated.In Billings. Mont., on Thursday morning for a briefing on wildfires, Mr. Zinke told The Associated Press that he would recommend changes to a “handful” of monuments, and would not suggest that any be eliminated.
A White House spokesman said in a statement that Mr. Trump was reviewing the report.A White House spokesman said in a statement that Mr. Trump was reviewing the report.
In April, President Trump ordered a sweeping review of 27 national monuments that were designated or expanded in recent years under the Antiquities Act. The review included places like Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks in New Mexico, Mojave Trails in California and Katahdin Woods and Waters in Maine. National monuments are strictly protected from new development in much the same way the national parks are. In April, Mr. Trump ordered a sweeping review of 27 national monuments that were designated or expanded in recent years under the Antiquities Act. The review included places like Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks in New Mexico, Mojave Trails in California, and Katahdin Woods and Waters in Maine. National monuments are strictly protected from new development in much the same way the national parks are.
Native American tribes in the Southwest, who lobbied for years to get the Bears Ears region designated a national monument, are expected to fight any move to reduce its size. Charles Wilkinson, a professor of public land law and adviser to the tribes, said such a decision would be “an attack on a significant part of the foundation of American conservation law” and added, “We have our complaint already ready to file.” Native American tribes in the Southwest, who lobbied for years to get the Bears Ears region designated a national monument, are expected to fight any move to reduce its size. Charles Wilkinson, a professor of public land law and an adviser to the tribes, said such a decision would be “an attack on a significant part of the foundation of American conservation law.”
Outdoor recreation and environmental groups are also expected to fight to preserve the monuments at their present size. “We have our complaint already ready to file,” he added.
Outdoor recreation and environmental groups are also expected to fight to preserve the monuments at their present sizes.
Mr. Trump said in April that the goal of the review was to end “another egregious use of federal power” and give the states more say in how public lands are used.Mr. Trump said in April that the goal of the review was to end “another egregious use of federal power” and give the states more say in how public lands are used.
Mike Noel, a Utah state representative, said that shrinking Bears Ears would be “a victory for our state.” Federal management of land in his state had constrained drilling, mining and grazing, he said, adding that Washington had no business setting aside so much land for the strict protection that monument status affords. Mike Noel, a Republican state representative in Utah, said that shrinking Bears Ears would be “a victory for our state.” Federal management of land in his state had constrained drilling, mining and grazing, he said, adding that Washington had no business setting aside so much land for the strict protection that monument status affords.
“When you turn the management over to the tree-huggers, the bird and bunny lovers and the rock lickers, you turn your heritage over,” Mr. Noel said.“When you turn the management over to the tree-huggers, the bird and bunny lovers and the rock lickers, you turn your heritage over,” Mr. Noel said.
The vast majority of the territory that Mr. Trump targeted for review — about 553 million acres of land and sea in all — was given monument protection by Mr. Obama, who set aside more such territory than any of his predecessors. But the review also included areas designated by Presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton.The vast majority of the territory that Mr. Trump targeted for review — about 553 million acres of land and sea in all — was given monument protection by Mr. Obama, who set aside more such territory than any of his predecessors. But the review also included areas designated by Presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton.
The Antiquities Act, signed into law in 1906 by President Theodore Roosevelt, gives presidents the power to designate national monuments that safeguard “historic landmarks, historic and prehistoric structures and other objects of historic or scientific interest.” Sweeping landscapes like the Canyons of the Ancients in Colorado and ocean areas like the Mariana Trench in the Pacific have been protected under the law, along with sites like the Statue of Liberty and parts of the Underground Railroad.The Antiquities Act, signed into law in 1906 by President Theodore Roosevelt, gives presidents the power to designate national monuments that safeguard “historic landmarks, historic and prehistoric structures and other objects of historic or scientific interest.” Sweeping landscapes like the Canyons of the Ancients in Colorado and ocean areas like the Mariana Trench in the Pacific have been protected under the law, along with sites like the Statue of Liberty and parts of the Underground Railroad.
Past presidents have altered the boundaries of national monuments before, including about 19 occasions when acreage was removed from them, according to federal data. Past presidents have altered the boundaries of national monuments, including about 19 occasions when acreage was removed from them, according to federal data.
Those reductions were often small, and were sometimes offset by enlargements elsewhere. The largest reduction by far came in 1915 when President Woodrow Wilson cut 313,280 acres from the monument in Washington State that later became Olympic National Park.Those reductions were often small, and were sometimes offset by enlargements elsewhere. The largest reduction by far came in 1915 when President Woodrow Wilson cut 313,280 acres from the monument in Washington State that later became Olympic National Park.
Scholars are divided over whether the Antiquities Act authorizes a president to do that. But none of the previous reductions were contested in court, Mr. Wilkinson said.Scholars are divided over whether the Antiquities Act authorizes a president to do that. But none of the previous reductions were contested in court, Mr. Wilkinson said.
Monument designations have been particularly contentious in Utah since 1996, when President Clinton made a surprise announcement that he was putting aside 1.9 million acres in the state for the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.Monument designations have been particularly contentious in Utah since 1996, when President Clinton made a surprise announcement that he was putting aside 1.9 million acres in the state for the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.
The designation halted a proposed coal project, the Smoky Hollow mine. Residents of Kane County, who had been expecting the mine to pump money and jobs into the region, gathered at a local high school after the announcement to cry, releasing bouquets of black balloons.The designation halted a proposed coal project, the Smoky Hollow mine. Residents of Kane County, who had been expecting the mine to pump money and jobs into the region, gathered at a local high school after the announcement to cry, releasing bouquets of black balloons.
For some in southern Utah, it was a wound that never healed. Twenty years later, when Mr. Obama declared Bears Ears a national monument in the final weeks of his presidency, the step divided the region.For some in southern Utah, it was a wound that never healed. Twenty years later, when Mr. Obama declared Bears Ears a national monument in the final weeks of his presidency, the step divided the region.
Supporters of the monument, many of them Navajo, saw its creation as a victory for indigenous rights. (Bears Ears is just north of the Navajo reservation, and takes its name from two buttes that tower over much of the region.)Supporters of the monument, many of them Navajo, saw its creation as a victory for indigenous rights. (Bears Ears is just north of the Navajo reservation, and takes its name from two buttes that tower over much of the region.)
But opponents, many of them descended from Mormon settlers, said it would strangle the region economically by barring future mining, and drilling on its land.But opponents, many of them descended from Mormon settlers, said it would strangle the region economically by barring future mining, and drilling on its land.
It is not clear that any mining or energy companies are eager to rush in to Bears Ears. A study by the left-leaning Center for American Progress found that the land did not offer especially strong prospects for mineral resources — mostly uranium — or for oil or gas. It is not clear that any mining or energy companies are eager to rush into Bears Ears. A study by the left-leaning Center for American Progress found that the land did not offer especially strong prospects for mineral resources — mostly uranium — or for oil or gas.
“The area has slightly above-average resource potential, but there are no signs that it’s a big play,” said Matt Lee-Ashley, a spokesman for the center.“The area has slightly above-average resource potential, but there are no signs that it’s a big play,” said Matt Lee-Ashley, a spokesman for the center.
The Antiquities Act limits monument designations to the “smallest area compatible with proper care and management of the objects to be protected,” a requirement that many conservative lawmakers have accused presidents of ignoring.The Antiquities Act limits monument designations to the “smallest area compatible with proper care and management of the objects to be protected,” a requirement that many conservative lawmakers have accused presidents of ignoring.
Mr. Zinke, in announcing the review, called it “long overdue” and pointed out that the average size of national monuments had grown over the years from 422 acres to more than a million. In his announcement on Thursday, Mr. Zinke said, “No president should use the authority under the Antiquities Act to restrict public access, prevent hunting and fishing, burden private land, or eliminate traditional land uses, unless such action is needed to protect” the monument.Mr. Zinke, in announcing the review, called it “long overdue” and pointed out that the average size of national monuments had grown over the years from 422 acres to more than a million. In his announcement on Thursday, Mr. Zinke said, “No president should use the authority under the Antiquities Act to restrict public access, prevent hunting and fishing, burden private land, or eliminate traditional land uses, unless such action is needed to protect” the monument.
During the review process, Mr. Zinke visited eight of the monuments on the list and met with local officials, business leaders and members of Native American tribes. He also opened an online forum for comments and received more than 2.8 million.During the review process, Mr. Zinke visited eight of the monuments on the list and met with local officials, business leaders and members of Native American tribes. He also opened an online forum for comments and received more than 2.8 million.
Rob Bishop, a Republican congressman from Utah, applauded the review of the monuments on Thursday, saying it was not about opening land to energy development, but about reining in a law that past presidents had distorted, without giving local communities a fair hearing.
“Congress never intended one individual to be given the power to unilaterally decide land management policies for enormous swaths of land,” Mr. Bishop said.
At the Twin Rocks Trading Post, a cafe beneath an outcrop of striated red rock at the edge of Bears Ears National Monument, Al Yazzie had a different perspective.At the Twin Rocks Trading Post, a cafe beneath an outcrop of striated red rock at the edge of Bears Ears National Monument, Al Yazzie had a different perspective.
Mr. Yazzie, 63, a Navajo from the tribe’s Low Mountain chapter, said that the tribe worked to win protection for the region in order “to get out of the sheep corral that white people gave us, which is the Indian reservation.”Mr. Yazzie, 63, a Navajo from the tribe’s Low Mountain chapter, said that the tribe worked to win protection for the region in order “to get out of the sheep corral that white people gave us, which is the Indian reservation.”
“It was always and has been a spiritual place,” he said about Bears Ears. “It’s the white people that came and tried to nullify that. And we had to fight to get it — to play the game the Western way, the government way, to have it reestablished as a national monument, as a sacred place for us. Now there is a stupid guy trying to take it away.”“It was always and has been a spiritual place,” he said about Bears Ears. “It’s the white people that came and tried to nullify that. And we had to fight to get it — to play the game the Western way, the government way, to have it reestablished as a national monument, as a sacred place for us. Now there is a stupid guy trying to take it away.”