Zinke Calls for Elimination of Portions of Bears Ears of National Monument

As part of Donald Trump’s Executive Order to review national monuments across the country,  Secretary Zinke recommended that President Trump eliminate protections for portions of the Bears Ears National Monument in Utah. In the wake of the retraction, Sec. Zinke recommended Congress step in to safeguard places no longer protected by the monument, a dead end that will leave important sites unprotected indefinitely.

The Bears Ears National Monument was protected at the behest of five sovereign Tribal nations with strong historical, spiritual and cultural ties to these public lands. More than 1 million public comments have been submitted in support of preserving Bears Ears and national monuments.

In response Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune issued the following statement:

“Diminishing protections for the Bears Ears National Monument is an affront to the sovereign Tribal Nations whose cultural heritage is at risk. It’s a thinly veiled attempt to sell out our public lands and an insult to people across the country who love and care about our great outdoors.

“It’s not from every oil well or every bank account — it’s from every mountainside. Let freedom ring. Our public lands are the embodiment of our democracy. We will continue to fight to preserve our democracy and our public lands. We join in solidarity with the Tribal Nations in support of the full Bears Ears National Monument and remain dedicated to defending our great outdoors, whether a neighborhood green space or the grand landscapes of our national parks. We will continue to work to ensure everyone can see themselves on our public lands, not just cronies of Donald Trump.”