Washington In an effort to preserve distinctive landscapes and cultural assets, federal officials will examine and perhaps alter the borders of national monuments established by past presidents as part of the Trump administration’s drive to increase American energy output.
Conservation organizations fearing that President Donald Trump could reduce or remove monuments created by his predecessors, notably Democrat Joe Biden, are alarmed by the assessment outlined in a Monday directive from incoming Interior Secretary Doug Burgum.
Burgum ordered agency representatives until February 18 to present preparations for carrying out his directive.
Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments in Utah, where state authorities opposed their establishment, are among the most endangered locations. There is uranium in the Bears Ears region and significant coal reserves at Grand Staircase-Escalante.
During his first presidency, Trump downsized the two monuments, accusing them of being a major land grab. Off the New England Coast, he also removed limitations on fishing within a large marine monument.
Later, Biden reinstated security for all three locations.
It’s unclear and the subject of an ongoing legal dispute whether Trump has the right to alter the locations of already-existing monuments.
The nation’s beloved public areas, such as national parks and monuments, are at the core of this cunning, unpatriotic campaign. According to a statement released Tuesday by a coalition of supporters of national monuments, these national assets are much cherished. The group consists of outdoor recreation enthusiasts, environmental and conservation organizations, and business entrepreneurs.
According to the group, national monuments protect trails, protect animals and public water, conserve culturally and geographically significant locations, and strengthen the outdoor recreation sector.
Over 3.2 million acres, or almost the size of Connecticut, are covered by the Utah monuments. They were established in accordance with the 1906 Antiquities Act, which granted presidents the authority to safeguard locations deemed historically, geographically, or culturally significant.
Both Republicans and Democrats, including Trump, have invoked the Antiquities Act, and the Supreme Court has upheld the president’s right to designate national monuments.
Officials from the Interior Department emphasized that no decisions have been made and declined to comment on whether any monuments would be singled out. Burgum referenced the federal act that relates to the 1906 law in his order, but he made no specific mention of any monuments.
Last month, the Republican governor of Utah stated that he is in favor of further decreasing Bears Ears. According to Governor Spencer Cox, Donald Trump’s choice to appoint Burgum to lead the Interior Department was likely his best move to date.
To begin his term at the Interior Department, which manages more than 500 million acres of public lands, including more than 400 national parks and 560 national wildlife refuges, the former governor of North Dakota issued a number of energy-related instructions on Monday. Burgum also took action to undo numerous regulations that Biden had imposed on the coal, oil, and gas sectors.
In a statement, Burgum said, “We are dedicated to cooperating to realize America’s full potential in energy dominance and economic development to make life more affordable for every American family while demonstrating to the world the strength of America’s natural resources and innovation.”
The Trump administration’s claim that the United States is going through a national energy emergency at a time when domestic oil output is at record levels serves as the foundation for his policies.
Oil industry groups applauded Burgum’s directives. According to Erik Milito, president of the National Ocean Industries Association, American energy leadership has returned.
However, Democrats and environmentalists have reacted negatively to the announcement of an energy emergency.
According to Aaron Weiss of the Center for Western Priorities, they will be laughed out of court if they claim that there is an energy emergency that supersedes the Antiquities Act.
When Biden undid Trump’s earlier monument reductions, the lawsuit was still pending and had not yet been resolved, according to Weiss.
According to activists, local businesses and communities have supported the monuments under evaluation, having spent years working to ensure their protection.
Sites in Nevada and Arizona that are important to the creation tales of local tribes have also been recognized as national monuments by Biden in recent years.
At the time, Republican Governor Joe Lombardo of Nevada said that the White House had not consulted his administration and had effectively obstructed clean energy initiatives and other state development.