MEDWAY, Maine - U.S. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke is sounding a positive note about the fate of a national monument in Maine that's under review.
He said Wednesday that he's comfortable with Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument remaining in "public hands.'' He also praised the forested scenery, calling it "beautiful.''
President Donald Trump has ordered the review of more than two dozen national monuments, including the one in Maine.
Zinke was asked about the possibility of scaling back the Maine property, which he's recommending for the Bears Ears National Monument in Utah. He said the Maine monument is smaller, so it doesn't make sense.
Zinke met Tuesday night with Republican Gov. Paul LePage, a critic of the 87,500-acre monument created by President Barack Obama. Zinke said LePage is "rightly concerned about jobs.''
This post was updated at 1 p.m. ET.
