FAIRBANKS — Rep. Don Young is among the members of the Western Caucus raising concerns about a leaked Department of the Interior report indicating the Obama administration is looking to designate 17 western sites as National Monuments.

Under the Antiquities Act, the president has the power to name such sites, which can halt development in them.

Alaska sites reportedly under consideration for national monument designation include Teshekpuk Lake on the North Slope and the entire Bristol Bay region, which is threatened by the proposed Pebble Mine project, according to the report.

 “The arrogance of the administration is fully on display in yet another ploy to make Alaska the nation’sl argest national park,” Young said in a statement.
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