The fate of 26 national monuments hangs in the balance, as the Interior Department holds a review process. Public comment is open until July 10.
Kayla Tausche reports on the proceedings so far in a President Trump directive to review national monument designations over the last two decades. Tausche catches up with Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, who is leading the review, as the process heads into public comment.
"Since the window for public comments period opened Friday, more than 10,000 letters have been posted on the Interior Department's landing page. Some support the review; others support keeping the monuments as they are," according to Tausche.
Secretary Zinke has stated that he recognizes both sides of the issue, which is pitting commercial ranching, fishing, and logging interests on one side against the outdoor recreation industry and environmentalists on the other. For an example of the latter, Brendan Mysliwiec posted an appeal to the American Rivers website, calling the review a "prelude to a monumental selloff."
Tausche also takes a look at some case studies of the national monuments that will be under review and the economic and political issues at play in each example.
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