Race Day Live Doug Burgum, the newly confirmed Interior Secretary, has caused concern with his recent order that could affect Nevada’s national monuments.
The order, signed on January 16, 2025, directs federal officials to review and possibly change national monuments and mineral leasing protections across the U.S.
Critics fear this could lead to the loss of protections for some of Nevada’s most treasured landscapes.
Burgum’s order asks land managers to consider changes to existing conservation policies, including lifting bans on activities like oil drilling, mining, and gas extraction in sensitive areas.
The Department of the Interior has given officials until February 18, 2025, to submit plans on how they will carry out this review.
“This is an exciting new chapter for the Department of the Interior,” Burgum said. He emphasized that his administration aims to help the U.S. achieve energy dominance and economic growth, which he believes will make life more affordable for families.
However, in Nevada, critics argue that the order could lead to the redesigning of national monuments, such as those created under the Antiquities Act of 1906.
This law gives presidents the power to protect lands that are important for their ecological or cultural value. Former President Donald Trump had already reduced the size of some monuments, including those in Utah, during his time in office.
Burgum’s order does not mention any specific monuments, but his actions raise concerns about the future of Nevada’s national monuments.
Since 2015, the state has seen the creation of four national monuments, including the Basin and Range, Gold Butte, Avi Kwa Ame, and Tule Springs Fossil Bed National Monuments.
These areas have protected more than 150,000 acres of land from development.
The most recent, the Avi Kwa Ame National Monument, was established in March 2024 by President Joe Biden. Local activist Kim Garrison Means, who was involved in the creation of this monument, strongly opposes Burgum’s order.
She believes that any attempt to change the boundaries of these protected areas would disregard local efforts to safeguard their lands.
Despite the controversy, the legal status of changing national monument boundaries remains uncertain.
A case involving Utah’s Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante monuments is currently under review, and its outcome could impact future decisions.
The review of national monuments also puts Nevada’s natural landscapes in jeopardy.
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The Trump administration had previously tried to open up lands for energy development, including in areas like the Ruby Mountains.
Local conservationists, like Mason Voehl from the Amargosa Conservancy, are concerned that mining could harm local water resources.
Senator Catherine Cortez Masto has already pushed back by sponsoring a bill to protect the Ruby Mountains, but the bill did not gain traction.
Nevada’s wildlife advocates, such as Russell Kuhlman of the Nevada Wildlife Federation, argue that the Antiquities Act is crucial for preserving natural sites when Congress cannot act quickly enough.
In summary, Doug Burgum’s recent order has sparked a debate about the future of Nevada’s national monuments and protected lands.
Local leaders and conservationists are determined to fight for the preservation of their landscapes, which have been protected through years of grassroots efforts.
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