Leaked memos and a senator's comments regarding Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke's review of 27 national monuments lack the requisite transparency over the Trump administration's efforts to shrink some monuments, according to a legal organization that has filed a lawsuit seeking more details on the secretary's review process.
Earthjustice, a nonprofit law firm that often represents environmental and conservation groups, maintains that the Interior Department, Bureau of Land Management, and the White House Council on Environmental Quality "have repeatedly failed to answer the public’s Freedom of Information Act requests" seeking details about the administration's review of national monuments designated by Presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama.
Among the questions the law firm, which brought the lawsuit on behalf of six organizations, wants answered is how Secretary Zinke incorporated input from Native American tribes and the 2.8 million Americans who urged protections for national monuments in the public comment period.
“The Trump administration continues its onslaught against America’s national monuments, hoping to cover up its misdeeds by blocking public access to information crucial to the protection of these iconic places,” said Yvonne Yuting Chi, an attorney in Earthjustice’s Rocky Mountains office. “National monuments preserve America’s historical heritage, stunning wilderness, geologic wonders, and priceless cultural sites — and they’re meant to be protected for future generations under the Antiquities Act. But the Trump administration wants to pretend that the laws of the land have changed. The American people have the right to know the fate of these magnificent places that belong to all of us, and we are taking these agencies to court to get answers.”
One of the group's in the lawsuit, Utah-based Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, believes the public deserves to know "who had the White House and Interior Department’s ear to push the President to dismantle Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments.”
U.S. Sen. Orrin Hatch, Utah's senior senator who has held his seat for more than 40 years, last week said President Trump informed him he planned to reduce in size both Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments. Grand Staircase holds rich coal deposits, and most Utah politicians want to see them mined.
“We also expect this lawsuit will shed light on the information and factors the White House Council on Environmental Quality and Interior Department considered as part of Secretary Zinke’s ‘monuments review’ and that led him to recommend eviscerating Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments, a decision that would place irreplaceable cultural and public natural resources at risk of damage and destruction," said Stephen Bloch, SUWA's legal director.
Others in the lawsuit include the Natural Resources Defense Council, The Wilderness Society, Grand Canyon Trust, Sierra Club, and Great Old Broads for Wilderness. The lawsuit seeks to compel the agencies to respond to seven Freedom of Information Act requests, most of which have been overdue for months. The complaint alleges that the agencies have failed to meet their response deadlines under the act and have repeatedly rejected or ignored these organizations’ inquiries on their requests’ status.
“If Interior Secretary Zinke’s ‘first step’ before telling the president to ravage the Bears Ears National Monument was, as he claims, to ‘gather the facts,’” said Aaron Paul, a staff attorney with the Grand Canyon Trust, “why are our months-old requests for those already-gathered facts still unanswered when federal law gives the Secretary 20 days to respond? It’s a shame that we have to turn to the courts to force the Secretary to deliver the transparency that the Freedom of Information Act secures for the American public.”
Since 1967, the Freedom of Information Act has provided the public the right to request access to records from any federal agency. When a member of the public lodges a request with a federal agency under this act, the agency must promptly disclose any information requested unless the information falls under one of the nine exemptions protecting interests such as personal privacy, national security, and law enforcement.
Story Categories:
A copy of National Parks Traveler's financial statements may be obtained by sending a stamped, self-addressed envelope to: National Parks Traveler, P.O. Box 980452, Park City, Utah 84098. National Parks Traveler was formed in the state of Utah for the purpose of informing and educating about national parks and protected areas.
Residents of the following states may obtain a copy of our financial and additional information as stated below:
- Florida: A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION FOR NATIONAL PARKS TRAVELER, (REGISTRATION NO. CH 51659), MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING 800-435-7352 OR VISITING THEIR WEBSITE. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE.
- Georgia: A full and fair description of the programs and financial statement summary of National Parks Traveler is available upon request at the office and phone number indicated above.
- Maryland: Documents and information submitted under the Maryland Solicitations Act are also available, for the cost of postage and copies, from the Secretary of State, State House, Annapolis, MD 21401 (410-974-5534).
- North Carolina: Financial information about this organization and a copy of its license are available from the State Solicitation Licensing Branch at 888-830-4989 or 919-807-2214. The license is not an endorsement by the State.
- Pennsylvania: The official registration and financial information of National Parks Traveler may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling 800-732-0999. Registration does not imply endorsement.
- Virginia: Financial statements are available from the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, 102 Governor Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219.
- Washington: National Parks Traveler is registered with Washington State’s Charities Program as required by law and additional information is available by calling 800-332-4483 or visiting www.sos.wa.gov/charities, or on file at Charities Division, Office of the Secretary of State, State of Washington, Olympia, WA 98504.
INN Member
The easiest way to explore RV-friendly National Park campgrounds.
Here’s the definitive guide to National Park System campgrounds where RVers can park their rigs.
Our app is packed with RVing- specific details on more than 250 campgrounds in more than 70 national parks.
You’ll also find stories about RVing in the parks, tips helpful if you’ve just recently become an RVer, and useful planning suggestions.
