National Parks and Monuments versus Golf Courses and Oil Rigs

“As families prepare for summer vacations in our National Parks – Democrats threaten to close them and shut down the government. Terrible!” – Donald Trump tweet 4-27-17

I got to be honest after reading this tweet and knowing about the executive order he just signed (see below) I am at an absolute loss for words.

“President Trump signed an executive order Wednesday calling into question the future of more than two dozen national monuments proclaimed by the last three presidents to set aside millions of acres from development.

In asking Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke for an unprecedented review of national monuments, Trump may force a question never before tested in the 111-year history of the Antiquities Act: Whether one president can nullify a previous president’s proclamation establishing a national monument.

Signing the executive order at the Department of the Interior Wednesday, Trump called President Barack Obama’s creation of national monuments an “egregious abuse use of power.” – USA Today 4-26-17

The list of 24 national monuments released by the White House under review;

Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument in Arizona, proclaimed by Clinton in 2000 (1 million acres).

Giant Sequoia National Monument in California, proclaimed by Clinton in 2000 (327,769 acres).

Vermilion Cliffs National Monument in Arizona, proclaimed by Clinton in 2000 (279,568 acres).

Hanford Reach National Monument in Washington, proclaimed by Clinton in 2000 (194,450 acres).

Canyons of the Ancients National Monument in Colorado, proclaimed by Clinton in 2000 (175,160 acres).

Ironwood Forest National Monument in Arizona, proclaimed by Clinton in 2000 (128,917 acres).

Sonoran Desert National Monument in Arizona, proclaimed by Clinton in 2001 (486,149 acres).

Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument in Montana, proclaimed by Clinton in 2001 (377,346 acres).

Carrizo Plain National Monument in California, proclaimed by Clinton in 2001 (204,107 acres).

Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument in the Pacific Ocean, proclaimed by President George W. Bush in 2006 and expanded by President Barack Obama in 2016, (89.6 million acres).

Marianas Trench Marine National Monument in the Pacific Ocean, proclaimed by Bush in 2009 (60.9 million acres).

Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument in the Pacific Ocean, proclaimed by Bush in 2009 and enlarged by Obama in 2014. (55.6 million acres).

Rose Atoll Marine National Monument in American Samoa, proclaimed by Bush in 2009 (8.6 million acres).

Rio Grande del Norte National Monument in New Mexico, proclaimed by Obama in 2013. (242,555 acres).

Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument in New Mexico, proclaimed by Obama in 2014 (496,330 acres).

Basin and Range National Monument in Nevada, proclaimed by Obama in 2015 (703,585 acres).

Berryessa Snow Mountain in California, proclaimed by Obama in 2015 (330,780 acres).

Northeast Canyons & Seamounts Marine National Monument in the Atlantic Ocean, proclaimed by Obama in 2016 (3.1 million acres).

Mojave Trails National Monument in California, proclaimed by Obama in 2016 (1.6 million acres).

Bears Ears National Monument in Utah, proclaimed by Obama in 2016 (1.4 million acres).

Gold Butte National Monument in Nevada, proclaimed by Obama in 2016 (296,937 acres).

Sand to Snow National Monument in California, proclaimed by Obama in 2016 (154,000 acres).

If this bothers you like it bothers me speak-up, write you representative(s). Trump is making generational decisions, actions that will affect your children, grandchildren, great grandchildren…..get the picture? What’s next? Oil rigs and golf courses. Think I am kidding? Just wait, just wait.