||| FROM THE DESERT SUN |||
All of America’s national monuments must be reviewed for potential oil and gas drilling and mining reserves, critics say, per bureaucratic language tucked deep in a sweeping order issued on Monday by newly sworn-in Interior Secretary Doug Burgum.
His order 3418, “Unleashing American Energy,” mandates that the Interior Department finish its initial monument review by Feb. 18.
That means 157 locations in 33 states and several national territories — including the freshly designated Chuckwalla National Monument and Sattitla National Monument in California — could be subjected to the expedited 15-day review, and attempts could be made to “revise” their boundaries.
Monuments protect cultural and historic resources and the lands that contain them, and are created by Congress or U.S. presidents. California has more monuments than any other state, with more than 4 million acres likely under review, one expert said, from popular desert off-roading trails to massive coastal redwoods. They include Mojave Trails, Sand to Snow, Carrizo Plain, Muir Woods, Devils Postpile, Cabrillo, Lava Beds, California Coastal, Sequoia NF, Cesar Chavez, Fort Ord, San Gabriel Mountains, Berryessa Snow Mountain and Castle Mountains.
Carrizo Plain monument in central California has been the subject of previous attempts to open preserved land for oil and gas drilling and resulting lawsuits. For now, there is no new energy production there.
The relevant portion of Burgrum’s order includes “actions to review and, as appropriate, revise all withdrawn public lands, consistent with existing law, including 54 U.S.C. 320301 and 43 U.S.C. 1714.”
Although not spelled out in plain English, those sections of code govern the Antiquities Act of 1906, under which 20 U.S. presidents have set aside millions acres of land and historic sites, from Alaska to Florida.
Many Republican lawmakers have criticized presidents’ use of the Antiquities Act to block mining, fossil fuels and other industrial development on federal monument lands.
But myriad environmental, hunting and fishing groups sharply condemned Burgum’s actions, once the meaning became clear.
“Burgum knows that attacking monuments is incredibly unpopular, which is why he won’t even use the words ‘national monuments’ or ‘Antiquities Act’ in his orders. He’s trying to operate in secret here, and definitely does not want any public input,” said Aaron Weiss, deputy director of Center for Western Priorities.
“This is a sneaky, unpatriotic attack that strikes at the very foundation of the country’s beloved public lands,” a coalition of groups said in a news release condemning the order. “These national treasures are broadly beloved. They safeguard our water, buoy the outdoor recreation economy, protect our trails, and preserve a national heritage rich in culture and natural beauty. Attacks on the outdoors, such as this order from Secretary Burgum, threaten the $640-billion recreation economy, putting millions of jobs at risk.”
The statement added that “the order fails to recognize that oil production hit record highs under the Biden administration. This isn’t about energy dominance. Washington politicians and their billionaire advisors have an unpatriotic anti-public lands agenda that aims to dismantle our national monuments for corporate polluters.”
**If you are reading theOrcasonian for free, thank your fellow islanders. If you would like to support theOrcasonian CLICK HERE to set your modestly-priced, voluntary subscription. Otherwise, no worries; we’re happy to share with you.**
