27 national monuments may have protections cut or curtailed under Trump's review(http://www.trbimg.com/img-590e1c89/turbine/ct-trump-national-monuments-20170506-001/750/750x422)
QuoteTwenty-seven national monuments, mostly in the West, face the curtailing or elimination of protections put in place over the past two decades by presidents from both parties, the Interior Department said.
President Donald Trump ordered the review last month, saying protections imposed by his three immediate predecessors amounted to "a massive federal land grab" that "should never have happened."
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/ct-trump-national-monuments-20170506-story.html
Well its ONLY a review at this point but there is hope :D
This is a direct follow up of the Obama Land Grab of December 2016 which INCLUDED the Gold Butte Nevada region where the BLM took John Lear's mine despite him having all the proper papers, security deposit of 185.000.00 and awards of excellence from the state of Nevada... It is the same region where the Bundy Ranch owbers fought for their rights (and WON)
Obama also grabbed a famous mineral collecting location in California that had always been a public collecting region. In that case even the BLM said "WTF?" and was negotiating allowing personal recreational rock collecting to continue
The stupid thing is that these 'land grabs' do NOT protect from mining an area... it only stops average citizens from using the land. A mining concern can still file the proper papers and get access
Obama claims another 1.6 million Western acres as national monumentsQuoteIn yet another shot at the incoming Trump administration, President Obama on Wednesday designated about 1.6 million acres of Western land as national monuments, cordoning off the massive areas from energy development while vowing that his successor can't reverse his actions.
The president designated about 1.35 million acres in Utah as the Bears Ears National Monument, setting aside land that American Indian tribes say contains sacred cultural and archaeological sites. He also established a commission comprised of the federal Agriculture and Interior departments that, in conjunction with tribes, will oversee the land.
Mr. Obama also claimed 300,000 acres in Clark County, Nevada, as the Gold Butte National Monument. The two designations add to Mr. Obama's record-setting use of national monuments and give more fuel to detractors who say he is trying to block domestic energy production before Mr. Trump assumes the presidency.
"Today, I am designating two new national monuments in the desert landscapes of southeastern Utah and southern Nevada to protect some of our country's most important cultural treasures, including abundant rock art, archaeological sites and lands considered sacred by Native American tribes," the president said in a statement.
"Today's actions will help protect this cultural legacy and will ensure that future generations are able to enjoy and appreciate these scenic and historic landscapes," he said.
The moves drew the ire of Republican lawmakers and other critics who long have accused Mr. Obama of abusing his
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/dec/28/obama-claims-16m-western-acres-national-monuments/
Obama moves to protect 1.8 million acres of California desert(http://d3i6fh83elv35t.cloudfront.net/newshour/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/RTR3RJT5-1024x660.jpg)
File photo of southern California desert by Mike Blake/Reuters
QuoteLOS ANGELES — President Barack Obama is granting national monument status to nearly 1.8 million acres of scenic Southern California desert, a move the White House says will maintain in perpetuity the region's fragile ecosystem and natural resources, as well as provide recreational opportunities for hikers, campers, hunters and others.
Obama, in California this week for a fundraising swing, is to make the announcement Friday.
In all, he will name three specific regions national monuments — Mojave Trails, Castle Mountains (both in the Mojave Desert) and Sand to Snow in the Sonoran Desert.
The White House says the designations will nearly double the amount of public land that Obama has designated as national monument status since taking office.
"In addition to permanently protecting incredible natural resources, wildlife habitat and unique historic and cultural sites, and providing recreational opportunities for a burgeoning region, the monuments will support climate resiliency in the region ... ," the White House said in a statement.
The designations will also connect those regions to other protected government land, including Joshua Tree National Park, the Mojave National Preserve and 15 other federal wilderness areas.
Mojave Trails National Monument, at 1.6 million acres, is by far the largest of the three new ones.
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/obama-moves-to-protect-1-8-million-acres-of-california-desert/
That might be a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel, and this time it might be the train of constructive, wise progress instead of the runaway federal bureaucracy with crazy ass Harry Reid at the throttle...
Seeker
We can hope
I know all the mineral and gem clubs are buzzing about this