A recently signed executive order by our glorious Orange Julius has directed the Secretary of the Interior to reconsider rules limiting energy production in our National Parks.
Read the restIn late March, President Trump signed his 19th executive order, titled "Promoting Energy Independence and Economic Growth," which in addition to rolling back a number of Obama-era climate polices may also make it easier for energy companies to drill in America's national parks.
Buried in the 2,300-word executive order is a sentence directing the Secretary of the Interior, Ryan Zinke, to review the rules which regulate oil and gas drilling in national parks and to repeal, suspend, or rescind them if they are found inconsistent with the president's energy goals.
The move has environmentalists in an uproar. "These are not burdensome regulations by any means," said Nicholas Lund, Senior Manager for the National Park Conservation Association. "They require really just a reasonable amount of work on the part of the operator to protect the park."
"We're really surprised and disappointed to see the administration come after national parks this way," Lund said. "With all that's going on in the world, drilling in our national parks should just not be a priority."
