For Immediate Release, April 13, 2018
Opposition Renewed to Trump's Attack on Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument
WASHINGTON― The Sierra Club, Center for Biological Diversity and Western Watersheds Project today renewed their opposition to President Trump’s illegal proclamation to strip protections from Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in Utah.
The conservation groups, which submitted comments as the first round of public input closes today, also criticized the Interior Department’s disregard for preserving irreplaceable objects of cultural and natural value and its destructive push for dirty fuel development.
“This process is a sham and an insult to millions of Americans who have told Trump to leave these national monuments as they were,” said Randi Spivak, public lands director at the Center for Biological Diversity. “The original boundaries of these spectacular monuments must be protected, along with the wildlife and cultural resources within them. Going through bureaucratic motions doesn’t change the fact that Trump’s actions are illegal.”
Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke is pushing ahead with the planning process for the former Bears Ears National Monument and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, even though several tribal nations and conservations groups are suing over Trump’s actions. Trump last year ordered more than 2 million acres stripped from the national monuments.
“This fast-tracked planning process is a huge waste of taxpayer money as all the time and money will be for nothing once our challenge to the illegal gutting of the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument is over,” said Jonathan Ratner, Wyoming, Utah and Colorado office director for Western Watersheds Project.
In today’s comments the groups urged the Bureau of Land Management to ban mineral extraction and consider the significant harm any new fossil fuel development would have on the climate.
“Places like Grand Staircase-Escalante must remain protected from outdated dirty fuel development. We have an obligation to leave these places for future generations to experience ― an obligation that was recognized by the original monument designation which must be upheld,” said Ashley Soltysiak, Utah Sierra Club chapter director.
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