Obama creates largest Pacific Ocean marine reserve

[DavidBrown]

President Obama has expanded a marine reserve around several Pacific islands into the largest protected area in the Pacific Ocean.

Obama to create world?s largest protected marine reserve in Pacific Ocean - The Washington Post

 

[Arizona Docent]

While the results are commendable, it is unclear to me whether he overstepped his legal authority and abused the antiquities act. I am of course glad the reserve will be expanded, but not so sure about the way it came about.

 

[DavidBrown]

While the results are commendable, it is unclear to me whether he overstepped his legal authority and abused the antiquities act. I am of course glad the reserve will be expanded, but not so sure about the way it came about.

He did not abuse the antiquities act. He was expanding a reserve that George W. Bush established using the exact same presidential powers. Political opponents of presidents have been grousing about this exact issue since Theodore Roosevelt used the law to establish the first national wildlife refuges 100 years ago, and they'll probably be moaning about it 100 years from now.