Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke said he would not recommend any changes to the boundaries of Craters of the Moon National Monument to President Bush/NPS
Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke released a brief statement Thursday to say he would not recommend any boundary modifications to Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve in Idaho or the Hanford Reach National Monument in Washington.
The monuments were among 27 that President Trump directed the Interior secretary to review to gauge whether they were properly designated under presidential use of the Antiquities Act.
“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,” said Secretary Zinke. “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."
On Craters of the Moon, which is managed by the National Park Service, the secretary said: “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. 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.”
On Hanford Reach, which is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildife Service, he said: “Sportsmen and women from all over the country go to Hanford Reach for some of the best fishing and bird hunting around. It’s also home to some of the most well-preserved remnants of human history in the area.”
Earlier, Secretary Zinke had said he would recommend changes to Bears Ears National Monument in Utah to shrink its size. While he said he was impressed with Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument in Maine, the secretary has not yet said what recommendation on it he would pass on to the president.
Comments
There's a reason why Neil Armstrong went to Craters of the Moon N.M. to practice moon landings with the Lunar Module. You can figure out that reason by looking at the picture above.
The real reason there will be no changes to CRMO is simply that no one is coveting the land for some kind of profit motive. It's money again -- or in this case, the lack thereof.
Despite the inhospitable landscape of CRMO, there are or were living ancient trees such as Limber Pine now infected with Asian Blister Rust. Of course, Int. Secy. Zinke and Trump would find no mining or timber dollar value here ! Ancient trees have played AN IMPORTANT ROLE in our understanding past climates and in tree ring correcting the Carbon 14 Dating Methodology.
https://science.nature.nps.gov/im/units/ucbn/monitor/limber_pine.cfm
Triple Twist Pine, Craters of the Moon, ID http://ents-bbs.org/viewtopic.php?f=77&t=3871
"The Triple Twist Pine tree was cored in 1967 and found to have 1350 rings. This helped to determine the age of the lava flow upon which it grows. The lava must be older than the trees growing upon it. The tree died around 1968."
The irony would be funny if not so sad. Lee complains of the extractive industries and their "profit motive" yet he drives a gas guzzling RV and I would guess lives in a house with substantial amounts of wood. Where does he think his gas and wood come from? The gas and wood fairy? Zinke determines no adjustments are needed at Craters. Does he get a thank-you? No, just more whining.
Lee - despite naysayers ad hominm attacks on you, your point is well taken by the rest of us.
Why should any of us thank Ryan Zinke for not destroying something we already have? In that case ecbuck, you should thank me for not stealing your life savings today, or robbing your house.
Ed, if the IRS audits me and finds I don't owe more money - I thank them. And I thank you for not stealing my life saving or robbing my house. Perhaps you should learn to be more grateful in life.
Good to know we can add tax evader to junk bond broker and real estate sales when discussing your sleaze.