Inner secretary Burgum Eyes National Monuments for Energy Resources

Interior secretary, Doug Burgum, ordered its staff to examine and perhaps modify the national monuments within the framework of a thrust to extend American energy production, a decision that could more shaking public land in the mass mass of the national park and the forest.

Ecologists fear that the cherished landscapes – including two newly struck California monuments – will be stripped of the protections for significant cultural and ecological resources. But the Conservatives argued that public lands should remain open to oil drilling and coal extraction, among other uses.

In an ordinance of February 3, Burgum ordered its assistant secretaries to “revise and, if necessary, revise all public lands withdrawn”, citing a federal law corresponding to the law of 1906 which allows presidents to create national monuments.

The directive was part of a radical secretarial order, called “UNLEASHING American Energy”, which aims to stimulate the extraction of resources on federal land and water. Burgum gave the agency officials 15 days to submit plans on how to comply with his order, who is now under examination.

“At this stage, we assess these reports to determine whether additional actions are justified, and we remain dedicated to guarantee that all the articles are entirely evaluated within the framework of our internal management process,” said J. Elizabeth Peace, main specialist in public affairs for the office of the Interior Department, in a press release.

Peace has not indicated when the examination could conclude or what measures could be taken.

Critics see the movement as opening the door to redraw or eliminate monuments.

During his first term, President Trump reduces the limits Two monuments in Utah – Bear Orels and Grand Struck – and stripped the protections of a marine monument off the coast of New England to allow commercial fishing.

Biden reverse changesBut some believe that the current exam will open the way to similar actions by the second Trump Administration.

It is not clear if the presidents have the power to modify the existing monuments. The dispute contesting the discounts of the previous monuments of Trump was still pending when Biden reversed them and the case was never settled.

In recent weeks, thousands of recent recruits in the United States Forest Service and National Park Service have been dismissed as part of a wider Trump effort and advisor Elon Musk to reduce the federal bureaucracy, which has triggered demonstrations and reactions.

What is a national monument?

Most national monuments are created by presidents, but the congress can also establish them. The 1906 antiquities law gives presidents the authority to designate monuments to protect “objects of historical and scientific interest” and can include geological wonders, archaeological sites and wildlife habitat. The presidents on both sides of the political aisle used the law to reserve land.

The monuments can be managed by the National Park Service, US Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, US Fish and Wildlife Service and other agencies. They generally exclude the drilling of oil and gas, the extraction of coal and other forms of energy production.

What is at stake in California?

California is home to 21 national monuments, more than any other state in the country – covering accidental ribs, majestic Sequoia groves and striking desert canyons. They include the national monument of the San Gabriel mountains near Los Angeles and the national monument of Sand To Snow in the east of the city, as well as the national monument of lava beds in the extreme northeast of the state.

Sean Hecht, lawyer director of the California regional office in Earthjustice, a non -profit organization focused on environmental issues, believes that the youngest state monuments are likely to be the most at risk, citing political reasons.

During his last days of mandate, the former president Biden appointed two national monuments in the California desert and the extreme north – the national monument of Chuckwalla and the Sáttítla National Highlands monument. The Amerindians led the accusation to safeguard the land they consider sacred.

“The older and more established monuments tend to be popular in California – while the new monuments are often not as established with a large constituency, and are therefore more politically vulnerable,” said Hecht in an email. He added that Trump could target the monuments as part of an effort to cancel Biden’s recent actions.

The new monuments also house natural resources that could make a target, said stakeholders.

Sáttítlawhich extends over more than 224,000 acres of lush forests and virgin lakes near the border of Oregon, was explored for the development of geothermal energy.

Located south of Joshua Tree National Park, Chuckwalla of 640,000 acres could be zero for water under the ground of the rugged desert, according to Donald Medart Jr., former municipal councilor of the Indian tribe of Fort Yuma Quechan, who was one of the tribes that led the push for the designation of the monument.

“Extracting all these groundwater would leave a devastating effect on our region,” said Medart, now a specialist in tribal engagement for Onoo Po strategies, a consulting company.

If it is oil that the Trump administration is afterwards, the national monument of Carrizzo Plain – a destination for the vision of wild flowers renowned in the south -east of the county of San Luis Obispo – can be looked at. The plain of meadows which houses several vulnerable plants and animals has historically had borehole and is the only state monument with oil potential, said Brendan Cummings, director of conservation of the Center for Biological Diversity, a non -profit accent on the protection of endangered species.

Attempts to modify monuments in California and elsewhere would be almost certainly welcomed by prosecution, according to conservation and environmental groups.

The designation of monuments have divided the recreation. Fishermen, hunters and hikers said that the offense of the extraction of resources on public land would reduce access to activities in breathtaking landscapes. But lovers of off -road vehicles and those who support dispersed campsite say that mining and drilling are generally compatible with their needs – and that monument designations can push their favorite use of the land.

The stake is access to outings of nature that provide advantages of joy and mental health – and large companies. Outdoor leisure activities contributed $ 81.5 billion to California’s economy in 2023, according to figures from the Bureau of Economic Analysis.

Those who love hunting and fishing on public lands “should be concerned with the decision to do behind closed doors for the future of these wild places,” Joel Weltzien, California Chapter coordinator for hunters and fishermen of the hinterland, said in a statement.

Ben Burr, executive director of Blueribbon coalitionA non -profit organization that advocates access to off -road vehicles, has expressed support for examining the country’s monuments – in the hope that changes will allow more varied forms of leisure.

“Monuments tend to limit the types of leisure use that may occur and give preferential access to certain user groups,” he said. Monuments generally limit camping to special areas, he said as an example, while some people want to be silent far from others.

Is Project 2025 at stake?

Supporters of the monument fear that the order of Burgum will be part of the promulgation of the 2025 project, a controversial policy of political game written by the conservatives as a guide for the Trump administration. The 2025 project calls for reducing more monuments and repealing the antiquity law.

But some are skeptical about the extent to which Burgum, the former governor of Northern Dakota and the main presidential candidate of the GOP, Ira.

John Leshy, professor emeritus at the UC College of the Law, San Francisco and former lawyer for the Interior Department, described Burgum as “a sort of conventional choice” to lead the Department which manages millions of acres of public land.

Although Burgum is close to the petroleum and gas industry, he does not seem to be a “real ideologist”, said Leshy, who is the author of “Our Common Ground: A History of America’s Public Lands”.

Burgum is also known to maintain good relations with the tribes of North Dakota.

The Amerindians “on the whole, they completely support the national monuments and the protective things that have been done,” said Leshy. “So, does he want to assume this interest group and alienate them?” I don’t know.”