FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
OCTOBER 25, 2017
The Zinke Doctrine Comes Into Focus
DENVER—The Department of the Interior has sent a draft 5-year strategic plan to the White House, first reported by The Nation. The strategic plan scrubs any mention of climate change and sets a goal for privatizing national park operations, while prioritizing extraction of publicly-owned resources. In response, the Center for Western Priorities released the following statement from Deputy Director Greg Zimmerman:
“This document is a succinct description of the Zinke Doctrine—private drilling and mining companies get top billing at the expense of Americans accessing our parks and public lands. On the week that the Interior Department proposed severe fee hikes for national parks visitors and Secretary Zinke crowed about selling oil leases at bargain rates, we’re seeing first-hand how everyday Americans lose under the Zinke Doctrine.
“If this is a roadmap for our parks and public lands, then we should all feel sorry for future generations.”
LEARN MORE
- Interior Department will sell 77 million acres at a decreased royalty in the Gulf of Mexico for oil and gas drilling, despite a lack of demand—Houston Chronicle | Hart Energy
- Interior Department considers a plan to more than double entrance fees at popular national parks—Associated Press | Salt Lake Tribune