Ryan Zinke: National Monuments Should Shrink

Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke recommends shrinking at least four national monuments, according to a memorandum obtained by The Washington Post.

In the report submitted to the White House in August, Zinke proposed President Donald Trump alter the size of 10 national monuments established or expanded by former presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush, and Bill Clinton.

Utah’s Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante, Nevada’s Gold Butte, Oregon’s Cascade-Siskiyou, and marine monuments including Pacific Remote Islands and Rose Atoll are on Zinke's chopping block, the Post reported.

Furthermore, Zinke recommended a change in management of the 10 monuments and suggested certain restrictions such as commercial fishing, coal mining and grazing, be permitted within the boundaries of these monuments.

"It appears that certain monuments were designated to prevent economic activity such as grazing, mining and timber production rather than to protect specific objects," the report reads.

The interior secretary advised that Trump "amend the existing proclamations to protect objects and prioritize public access; infrastructure upgrades, repair and maintenance; traditional use; tribal cultural use; and hunting and fishing rights."

The memo is under review and spokeswoman Kelly Love told The Washington Post the White House "does not comment on leaked documents."

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