Reports that U.S. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke proposes downsizing Gold Butte National Monument in Nevada are drawing condemnation from environmental advocates and Democratic elected officials.
But they're welcomed by a southern Nevada water district with drinking water springs in the area.
Virgin Valley Water District executive Kevin Brown said Monday his agency has five springs in the Virgin Mountains, and asked Zinke to carve out about 25 square miles (65 square kilometers) from Gold Butte.
That's about 5% of the overall monument area.
Friends of Gold Butte leader Jaina Moan vows that any monument boundary change by presidential edict would draw a lawsuit.
Moapa Band of Paiutes Tribal Chairman Darren Daboda didn't immediately respond to messages about Zinke's recommendation that President Donald Trump ask Congress to let tribes "comanage" Gold Butte cultural areas.
Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke is recommending that six of 27 national monuments under review by the Trump administration be reduced in size, with changes to several others proposed.
A leaked memo from Zinke to President Donald Trump recommends that two Utah monuments - Bears Ears and Grand Staircase Escalante - be reduced, along with Nevada's Gold Butte and Oregon's Cascade-Siskiyou.
Two marine monuments in the Pacific Ocean also would be reduced under Zinke's memo, which has not been officially released. The Associated Press obtained a copy of the memo, which was first reported by the Wall Street Journal.
Trump ordered the review earlier this year after complaining about improper "land grabs" by former presidents, including Barack Obama.
U.S. Senator Dean Heller (R-NV) released the below statement following reports on the Department of Interior (DOI) Secretary Ryan Zinke’s recommendations related to the Gold Butte National Monument:
“As a strong proponent of states’ rights, the Obama Administration’s decision to bypass Congress and designate two national monuments in Nevada despite widespread disagreement at the local level is an example of extreme overreach and the failed Washington-knows-best mentality. That is why I welcomed Secretary Zinke to Nevada to see first-hand the impact of monuments designated under the Antiquities Act with no local input. After talking to and meeting with the Secretary several times, I am pleased that he has taken my recommendation to ask the President to modify Gold Butte’s boundaries to allow the Virgin Valley Water District to access its water rights that were lost under the previous Administration. These actions recommended by me and Secretary Zinke prioritize local concerns over the opinion of Washington bureaucrats, and I hope that President Trump will agree with the Secretary.”
Rep. Dina Titus (D-NV) released the following statement:
“Secretary Zinke leaked a memo in the middle of the night because he knows his plan to hack away at monuments like Gold Butte is an overreach opposed by the majority of Americans. Gold Butte’s opponents have created a straw man argument about water rights without mentioning that the monument’s proclamation includes language to protect them. Now we must recommit our effort to protect these precious public lands in the courts and send a strong message to Zinke and Trump to keep their hands off our monuments.”
Representative Ruben J. Kihuen (D-NV) released the following statement:
“The latest leaks from this administration show that once again Secretary Zinke is ignoring the will of Nevadans by recommending that the size of Gold Butte National Monument be reduced. This decision will not only be detrimental to Nevada’s economy and shared cultural heritage, but it is further proof that the monument review process has been rigged from the start. Secretary Zinke promised that Nevadans’ voices would be heard. Instead, we got half-hearted attempts to meet with stakeholders and secret memos cooked up behind closed doors, all when the outcome was predetermined from the beginning. When it comes to altering our monuments and impacting our livelihood, Nevadans deserve more than unofficial leaks and uncorroborated reports. Secretary Zinke should look Nevadans in the eye and give it to us straight, rather than hide behind the administration’s continued shroud of secrecy.”
Congresswoman Jacky Rosen (D-NV) released the following statement:
“After promising an open and transparent process, Secretary Zinke and the Trump Administration are operating in secret and ignoring tens of thousands of Nevadans who said loudly and clearly that they want to protect our National Monuments,” said Rosen. "No President has unilateral power to revoke a national monument under the Antiquities Act and any decision to redefine protections for Nevada’s national monuments is a blatant overreach. This rash decision by the Trump Administration will not only endanger Nevada's natural beauty and chip away at our cultural heritage, but it will also hurt our state’s outdoor recreation economy by eliminating jobs that have contributed significantly to our local tourism industry. I’ll continue to stand up to this administration, in every way I can, to protect Nevada’s public lands.”
Nevada Conservation League Executive Director Andy Maggi stated:
“The recommendations found in the leaked national monuments report of Secretary Zinke gave no clarity or certainty for Nevada’s Gold Butte National Monument. There is only vagueness with reference to changing boundaries and updating the proclamation language. What was revealed, however, was just how much Senator Dean Heller has been supporting the review and subsequent changes to some of Nevada's cultural, historic, and natural wonders when in a statement he thanked Secretary Zinke for listening to him and taking his recommendations for what to do in Nevada. This clearly demonstrates just how out of touch Senator Heller is with the overwhelming majority of Nevadans who support keeping Gold Butte intact as it was designated. Heller would rather score political points with the Bundy's and their supporters instead of standing up for all Nevadans.”
Battle Born Progress Executive Director Annette Magnus stated:
“Once again, Senator Dean Heller is on the wrong side of an issue that Nevadans care deeply about. It has become clear that Heller does not actually care about the voters of Nevada who overwhelmingly support protecting places like Gold Butte and Basin and Range National Monuments and keeping them as they are. He is more concerned with the Bundys who he has called “patriots” and defending these domestic terrorists, instead of doing what is right to protect Nevada’s natural and cultural wonders. Instead of being Trump and Zinke’s yes man, Heller needs to be protecting our public lands for future generations.”
(The Associated Press also contributed to this report.)
