When he arrived in Utah earlier this week, Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke said it didn't matter where you live, whether in Boston, Massachusetts, or Blanding, Utah, you had an equal voice in how public lands, particularly national monuments, are managed. Beginning today, you can add your voice and thoughts to that issue.
The comment period on the validity and worth of 27 national monuments, from Bears Ears in Utah to Katahdin Woods and Waters in Maine, opened this morning on regulations.gov. President Trump called for the Interior Department to review national monuments of 100,000 acres or more created since 1996, when President Clinton designated 1.9-million-acre Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in southern Utah over the protests of Utah's congressional delegation.
While Katahdin Woods and Waters isn't quite 100,000 acres, it was added to the list, presumably, because Maine Gov. Paul LePage personally asked the president to consider whether Maine residents had enough input on whether the 87,000 acres adjacent to Baxter State Park should have been designated by President Obama last year. The twist in this instance, however, is that the monument was established only after Roxanne Quimby, who made her fortunate on Burt's Bees, donated 87,000 acres to the Interior Department specifically so Katahdin Woods and Waters could be created. Were the president or Congress somehow able to abolish that monument, who would own the land?
On Sunday when he met with reporters in Salt Lake City, the Interior secretary said that while he wanted to hear the views of "local stakeholders" on the 1.3-million-acre Bears Ears National Monument, he added that their voices should bear no more weight than those of Americans living elsewhere.
"Does a citizen from Massachusetts have any more standing from a citizen in Montana when it comes to our public lands? No. But everyone should have a voice, and a lot of what I face as secretary of Interior, there's a lot of anger out there. There's a lot of mistrust out there," said Secretary Zinke.
Just as those on the political right critized then-Interior Secretary Sally Jewell for her consideration and meetings over Bears Ears last summer, those on the political left have criticized Secretary Zinke for his meetings this week around Bears Ears and the Grand Staircase.
“It was amateur hour in Utah this week. Secretary Zinke’s one-sided listening tour amounted to little more than a series of staged photo ops with national monument opponents, while the loud pleas from the local monument supporters fell on deaf ears," said Greg Zimmerman, deputy director of the Center for Western Priorities. "Several times during his visit, Secretary Zinke indicated his mind is already made up— he wants to eliminate or shrink Bears Ears National Monument. Any action to undermine the Bears Ears, or any monument, will leave a dark stain on Secretary Zinke’s tenure at the Interior Department.”
In his order to Secretary Zinke, the president gave him 45 days from April 26 to report back on whether he thought Bear Ears should remain intact as President Obama established it under the Antiquities Act, or whether it was too big and should be reduced in size or even abolished. Then, by mid-summer, Mr. Zinke is to report back on the other 26 monuments identified for the review.
Public comment at regulations.gov is being taken on Bears Ears National Monument through May 25, and on all other monuments in the study through July 9.
While Secretary Zinke spent four days in Utah this week, and presumably will visit some or all of the other monuments on his list, there's been no word whether there will be hearings on the monuments elsewhere in the country. So if you live far from the monuments, this comment period might be the only chance you'll get to voice your opinion.
Comments
The designation of the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument has already contributed more to to economic growth in Maine than all LePage's bluff and bluster. The majority of the people of Maine support the continued designation, as does the state's congressional delegation. It is past time for all mainers to look forward and make the best of this wonderful opportunity, and not fight a hopeless rear guard action.
Every single National Monument, every single National Park, is special in ways that words can't describe. They are the heartbeat of our land in this country, living history set aside for generations to come to appreciate. Our National Forests and BLM land offer respite from the hectic lifestyle of our country, being rich and powerful can be consuming. I hope that you consider how important keeping these humble pieces of our country's history and saving room for enjoyment by all, is more important than sacrificing them for finacial gain. Please consider the opinions of the people when decision making time arrives.
Public lands should be left as public lands for the citizens of America and the earth to enjoy. While I agree that these lands need management to ensure rules and regulations are enforced and followed, I do not believe that specific groups shoud be targeted for non-use. People who love to hike, bike, nature watch, camp, fish, hunt, off-road, and photograph should all be able to enjoy these lands. We just need people to respect eachother and remember that these lands will remain open for use as long as we clean-up after ourselves.
I do hope that all the good people expressing their feelings on NPT - a non-governmental website - also call your own Congresscitter, who you can find on this governmental link:
http://www.house.gov/representatives/find/
I agree with this! Unspoiled and undeveloped land helps to reduce pollution and effects of lands (and waters) that are under intensive use. National Parks and Monuments are a financial boon to the states that have them. These parks and monuments should be protected and their funding expanded. User fees also can rise to help sustain their upkeep.
If they are so valuable as public lands, why haven't the states acquired the lands and provided the protections afforded NPs? That places the priorities where they belong. Why should purchases, management and maintenance always be buried in a Federal Budget? As I have said before, the Federal government can't manage and pay for what they have now why would any responsibile person think the resources should be spread on additional properties?
There is NO sane reason to decimate ANY of our National Parks. The parks serve not only to show us the absolute grandeur of diverse landscapes but the designated parks also protect sacred history, images from ancestors (petroglyphs, etc) and give all Americans a place to soothe their souls, learn and respect nature in a hectic world. The sole reason this despicable group of GOP reps & Trump want to destroy these lands is to feed their & other elitists' outrageous greed through outdated mining, outdated oil drilling & other destructive acts. America is revered for these beautiful protected areas & much revenue is generated from related tourism. Any reversal of protections for ANY of our national parks, monuments or historical places is tantamount to Treason: ..."the betrayal of one's own country by waging war against it". That is what GOP/Trump & You would commit against our parks & citizens' interests.
I emplore that these national treasures remain protected in every way possible. These lands do not belong to the government or the rich and greedy - they belong to us all - and they cannot be replaced. Americans overwhelmingly support protection of these lands as is shown EVERY TIME a poll is taken. The new administration has no right to open these lands up to the highest bidder- we are watching, and we vote.