RENO, Nev. — Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke recommended scaling back the size of the Gold Butte National Monument in southern Nevada on Tuesday, drawing praise from Republican Sen. Dean Heller but sharp criticism from congressional Democrats and conservationists who vowed to fight any such move. Zinke said he would focus the limited changes on efforts to protect local governments’ access to water on the site. “It was inappropriately put in the monument,” Zinke said. Designated by President Obama under the Antiquities Act, Gold Butte protects more than 400 square miles (1,036 sq. Rep. Dina Titus, D-Nev., said Zinke has been busy “fundraising and undermining the integrity of the Interior Department.”“He is in no position to make a sound judgment on Gold Butte,” she said.

Source: National Post December 05, 2017 23:31 UTC