washington u.s. interior secretary ryan zinke recommend aug. 24 whether eliminate shrink nearly two dozen national monuments create first major test 111-year-old law give presidents power protect swaths public land zinke expect recommend least national monuments review create since 1996 rescind shrink size respond order president donald trump believe great opportunity increase local resource development economic opportunities recommendation reductions could herald move unchartered territory antiquities act president declare certain areas historic scientific interest national monument however president ever revoke previous designation previous presidents include woodrow wilson william howard taft reduce size exist monuments time environmental group prepare challenge change court something happen trump argue previous administrations abuse right designate federally protect monuments 1906 antiquities act put millions acres land mainly western state limit drill mine log activity without adequate input locals antiquities act president declare certain areas historic scientific interest national monument conservation group state attorneys general native american tribes include five tribes lobby create one sit review bear ears national monument utah already say plan challenge change court tell zinke tribes will go battle term litigation fight monument say davis filfred council delegate navajo nation council zinke say far six monuments 27 review list leave intact expect recommend downsize presidential decree congressional action could change future presidents use 1906 law zinke already say intend scale bear ears cover 1.35 million acres create last december former president barack obama say would protect cultural legacy native american tribes preserve scenic historic landscape zinke say believe previous presidents take many liberties antiquities act clearly antiquities act design protect small area compatible protection object zinke tell reuters june boston meet stakeholders discuss atlantic coast northeast canyons seamounts marine monument zinke say congress need step plate take legislation could change monument size create designations like national recreation conservation areas molly block spokeswoman utah republican representative rob bishop chair house representatives natural resources committee say house may able pass legislation regard monuments enactment measure would uphill battle get something house anything face tough time senate say meanwhile public support monuments grow visibility zinke say interior receive 1.2 million public comment regulations.gov website thousands via traditional mail environmental group say 2.7 million comment submit mostly favor keep monuments intact debate galvanize lot different interest beyond traditional environmental group include outdoor retailers hunters fishers mobilize review say sharon buccino natural resources defense council outdoor retailer patagonia air first-ever tv ads sunday feature direct appeal zinke leave monuments intact ads air zinke home state montana well utah nevada several monuments review u.s. national monument review test key land protection law