Zinke's Confirmation as Interior Secretary Could Threaten Public Lands

WASHINGTON – The Senate today confirmed Ryan Zinke as Interior Secretary. 

The following is a statement by Sharon Buccino, director of the Land and Wildlife program at the Natural Resources Defense Council:

“Adding Ryan Zinke to Trump's polluter cabinet puts our lands, and precious resources at risk.  The Department's mission is to manage and protect our wildlife, our cultural heritage, and the lands and waters owned by all Americans.  Zinke is a champion of dirty energy.  He supports increasing logging, drilling and mining on public land, and the removal of key environmental safeguards.  His record suggests he will not put the public interest first as a steward of our natural resources.”

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The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) is an international nonprofit environmental organization with more than 2 million members and online activists. Since 1970, our lawyers, scientists, and other environmental specialists have worked to protect the world's natural resources, public health, and the environment. NRDC has offices in New York City; Washington, D.C.; Los Angeles; San Francisco; Chicago; Bozeman, Montana; and Beijing. Visit us at www.nrdc.org and follow us on Twitter @NRDC.