Energy and Environment

Shrinking monuments could open land for mining and drilling, but energy industry isn’t interested

By Josh Siegel
Published August 27, 2017 4:01am ET
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Shrinking monuments could open land for mining and drilling, but energy industry isn’t interested
"As the steward of our public lands, one of my top priorities is to open up access wherever possible for hunting and fishing so that more families have the opportunity to pass down the heritage," Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke said.

Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke’s recommendation for President Trump to shrink some national monuments opens up the possibility for new mining or drilling on federal land that would no longer be off limits.

Environmentalists who oppose reducing the monuments have expressed alarm that mining or other energy companies could rush into suddenly unprotected land to try to extract fossil fuels that they believe will worsen global warming.

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Interior Josh Siegel Mining National Monument Ryan Zinke