Nonprofit sues Trump Administration for Access to National Monument Review Documents

Staff, edhat Santa Barbara, Mar. 15, 2018

Today, Los Padres ForestWatch filed suit against the Department of the Interior after the nonprofit organization tried and failed to gain access to public documents related to the federal agency’s review of the Carrizo Plain National Monument last summer.

In April of last year, the Trump Administration announced a review of 27 national monuments throughout the country to determine whether to reduce their size or eliminate their protected status. The list included the Carrizo Plain National Monument in San Luis Obispo and Kern counties, a protected area of native grassland and mountains more than 200,000 acres in size. The national monument is home to 13 federally endangered species such as the San Joaquin kit fox and the California jewelflower, and is known for its spectacular wildflower displays.

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In August, ForestWatch filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Request with the Department of the Interior in an attempt to obtain documents related to the review of the Carrizo Plain National Monument — why it was selected to be reviewed, agency communications on the future of the national monument, and public comments referencing the Carrizo Plain.

Read more here.