BILLINGS — Environmentalists have sued the administration of President Donald Trump seeking to pry loose details of its plan to shrink some national monuments and open protected areas to more resource development.
The lawsuit filed Thursday in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C. alleges that the White House Council on Environmental Quality and Interior Department ignored Freedom of Information Act requests for documents related to the issue.
Trump plans to shrink two monuments in Utah — Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante. Additionally, Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke has recommended shrinking Nevada’s Gold Butte, Oregon’s Cascade-Siskiyou and two marine monuments in the Pacific Ocean.
Logging, grazing and commercial fishing would be allowed at other monuments.
The White House declined comment.
Plaintiffs in the case include the Sierra Club, Wilderness Society and other groups.