Above: The Indian Tunnel at Craters of the Moon National Monument. NPS photo.

The Trump administration has narrowed the list of National Monuments being considered for elimination or downsizing to 26 — 22 land areas and 4 marine environments. You would have to assume that they actually want to eliminate them or they would not have put them on the list. But the administration is going through the motions of accepting input from the public before action is taken.

Comments may be submitted online after May 12 at http://www.regulations.gov by entering “DOI-2017-0002” in the Search bar and clicking “Search,” or by mail to Monument Review, MS-1530, U.S. Department of the Interior, 1849 C Street NW, Washington, DC 20240.

DATES: The Department will shortly publish a notice in the Federal Register officially opening the public comment period. Written comments relating to the Bears Ears National Monument must be submitted within 15 days of publication of that notice. Written comments relating to all other designations subject to Executive Order 13792 must be submitted within 60 days of that date.