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U.S. NEWS Friday 25 august 2017

US interior chief recommends changes on some protected lands

By MATTHEW BROWN Utah’s Bears Ears National
BRADY McCOMBS Monument needs to be re-
Associated Press duced in size.
BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — In- The White House said only
terior Secretary Ryan Zin- that it received Zinke’s rec-
ke announced Thursday ommendations and is re-
he won’t seek to rescind viewing them.
any national monuments Conservationists and tribal
carved from the wilderness leaders responded with
and oceans by past presi- alarm and distrust, de-
dents. But he said he will manding the full release of
press for some boundary Zinke’s recommendations
changes and left open the and vowing to challenge
possibility of allowing drill- attempts to shrink any mon-
ing, mining or other indus- uments.
tries on the sites. Gene Karpinski, president
Twenty-seven monuments of the League of Conserva-
were put under review in tion Voters, called Zinke’s
April by President Donald review a pretext for “selling
Trump, who has charged out our public lands and
that the millions of acres waters” to the oil industry
designated for protec- and others.
tion by President Barack Jacqueline Savitz, senior
Obama were part of a vice president of Oceana,
“massive federal land which has been pushing for In this Thursday, Aug. 10, 2017 photo, a sign marks the entrance to the Katahdin Woods and Waters
grab.” preservation of five marine National Monument near Patten, Maine. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke wants to retain the newly
created Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument in northern Maine, but said he might
If Trump adopts Zinke’s rec- monuments included in the recommend adjustments to the White House on Thursday, Aug. 24, 2017.
ommendations, it could review, said that simply say- (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
ease some of the worst ing “changes” are coming prepared to launch a legal tourism while still allowing ber harvesting and even
fears of the president’s doesn’t reveal any real in- fight against even a slight activities that locals have some mineral production,’”
opponents, who warned formation. reduction in its size. pursued for generations — Noel said. “That’s a very
that vast public lands and “A change can be a small Republican Utah state logging, livestock grazing selfish attitude.”
marine areas could be tweak or near annihilation,” Rep. Mike Noel, who has and oil and gas drilling. The marine monuments
stripped of federal protec- Savitz said. “The public has pushed to rescind the des- “The eco-tourists basically encompass more than
tion. a right to know.” ignation of Bears Ears as a say, ‘Throw out all the rubes 340,000 square miles and
But significant reductions in A tribal coalition that monument, said he could and the locals and get rid include four sites in the Pa-
the size of the monuments pushed for the creation live with a rollback of its of that mentality of grazing cific Ocean and an array
or changes in what activi- of the 2,100-square-mile boundaries. He called that and utilizing these public of underwater canyons
ties are allowed on them Bears Ears monument on a good compromise that lands for any kind of renew- and mountains off New
could trigger fierce resis- sacred tribal land said it is would enable continued able resource such as tim- England.q
tance, too, including law-
suits.
In an interview with The Philadelphia wants public’s opinion on Rizzo statue
Associated Press, Zinke
said he is recommending
changes to a “handful” of PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Phil- suggestions on what to do he reigned over a corrupt arrested for spray-painting
sites, including unspecified adelphia is asking for the with the statue after calls police department and “black power” on it.
boundary adjustments, public’s help in decid- to tear it down escalated used his power to alienate The statue stands outside
and suggested some mon- ing the fate of a statue of following a deadly white minorities. Supporters say the Municipal Services
uments are too large. He former mayor and police nationalist rally in Charlot- he was a devoted pub- Building. Mayor Jim Kenney
would not reveal his rec- commissioner Frank Rizzo. tesville, Virginia. lic servant who spoke his has said it’s the “right time”
ommendations for specific Officials on Thursday an- Rizzo served as mayor from mind.Last week, the statue for a conversation about
sites but previously said nounced they’re taking 1972 to 1980. Critics argue was egged and a man was the statue.q