Interior secretary to review past presidents’ national monument designationsTrump says ‘massive federal land grab should never have happenedDonald Trump has triggered a review of protections that cover more than a billion acres of US public land and waters in a move that could potentially rescind the designation of several national monuments declared by preceding presidents. Trump on Wednesday signed an executive order relating to the Antiquities Act,a law introduced by President Teddy Roosevelt in 1906 which gives presidents the ability to name areas of federal land and waters as national monuments. The order directs Ryan Zinke, the secretary of the interior, or to review approximately 30 national monuments that are larger than 100000 acres and have been declared since 1996. Related: Obama administration rushes to protect public lands before Trump takes office Related: Obama leaves 'phenomenal legacy' of protecting historic and natural land Continue reading...
Source: theguardian.com