DEMAND PROTECTION OF OUR NATIONAL MONUMENTS
On Monday, December 4th, Trump traveled to Utah to announce the reduction of two National Monuments in the state: Bear’s Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante. Combined, the reduction removes two million acres of land from the public, shrinking Bear’s Ears by a whopping 85% and Grand Staircase-Escalante by 45%. This decision by Trump represents the largest rollback of federally protected land in American history, opening the way for development, logging, drilling, and mining on these lands.
This assault on our public lands is just his first. In April, Trump issued an executive order directing Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke to review the status of all national monuments that make up 100,000+ acres and were created since 1996 under the Antiquities Act of 1906. The results of this review, leaked to the Washington Post in September, recommended modifying 10 national monuments including the shrinking of at least four. These sites include the 2 Utah monuments along with Nevada’s Gold Butte and Oregon’s Cascade-Siskiyou.
There is some question if Trump has the authority to reduce National Monuments under the Antiquates Act of 1906, and legal challenges by Native American and environmental groups have already been filed. Congress also has a responsibility to speak out against this attack on public lands and demand Trump change course.
Call this office:
Ryan A. Costello R-PA
202-225-4315
