Secretary Zinke Withholds Monument Recommendations from Public

Says a “handful” of monuments will see changes

August 24, 2017 (BOSTON, MA) – Conservation Law Foundation (CLF) released the following statement today in response to Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke’s recommendations to President Trump on how to alter existing national monuments and his failure to publicly disclose those recommendations.

“The fate of these treasures shouldn’t be left hanging in the balance,” said Peter Shelley, Senior Counsel for Conservation Law Foundation. “Some 3 million people — more than 98 percent of commenters — voiced their support for keeping our national monuments intact. Submitting recommendations that defy the will of the American people and then withholding these recommendations from the public is utterly unacceptable. The president has no legal authority to alter national monuments, and we will take him to court if he tries.”

CLF experts are available for further comment.

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