Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke announced Thursday that he won’t change the status of two national monuments that were placed on a list of sites he is reviewing for President Trump.
“Today I’m announcing that the Craters of the Moon and Hanford Reach National Monuments review process has concluded and I am recommending no changes be made to the monuments,” Zinke said.
Trump’s list is comprised of sites that Zinke is reviewing to determine if any changes are needed on their status as national monuments. The review could lead to decisions to rescind, reverse or modify the status of some monuments.
Craters of the Moon is a national monument located in Idaho that features rolling hills formed from lava flows. The Hanford Reach Monument in Washington state borders the World War II-era Hanford nuclear weapons facility that the Energy Department manages. The monument is also home to a number of rare plant and animal species, as well as being rich in remains of extinct ice age animals such as the Wooly Mammoth.
“As a former geologist, I realize Craters of the Moon is a living timeline of the geologic history of our land on the Great Rift,” Zinke said. “Whether it’s hiking up the alien-like lava flows along the Spatter Cones, or just driving through the scenic loop, there’s a lot to see and learn at this historic location.”
Hanford Reach has some of the “best fishing and bird hunting around,” as well as being “home to some of the most well-preserved remnants of human history in the area,” he said.
“When the President and I began the monument review process we absolutely realized that not all monuments are the same and that not all monuments would require modifications,” Zinke added.
The agency said that both monuments “are no longer under review and the secretary will recommend that no modifications should be made to the monuments,” according to a statement. He made Thursday’s decision after a review of public comments and conversations with stakeholders, the agency said.
Zinke was directed to review a number of monuments in accordance with Trump’s April 26 executive order. He continues to pursue changes to more contentious monument designations such as the Bears Ears site in Utah, which former President Barack Obama significantly expanded in his last months in the Oval Office.
