http://www.huffingtonpost...sh-pledge-t_n_117994.html

The move follows a similar action by Bush in 2006 to establish a new monument in the northern Hawaiian islands. Combined with the latest announcement, Bush has now protected more ocean area than any president in history.

Give me a break!
I reported on all this several months ago. (his first one in June 2006 that he let it go to hell in a hand-basket, by cutting the funding for it by 80% the very next year)

For reasons unknown to most of us, authority or not, I have no idea what he thinks he is doing? (except 'thank goodness now it will be in someone else's' hands.) Just a: ( last ditch bid to improve his rating?)

He did the same thing back in June 2006, and got praise even from me!
WASHINGTON - Two years ago with fanfare, President Bush declared a remote chain of Hawaiian islands the biggest, most environmentally protected area of ocean in the world 'However' It never worked out that way.

Cleanup efforts have slowed, garbage is still piling up and Bush has cut his budget request by 80 percent.

Winning rare praise from conservationists, the president declared the 140,000-square-mile chain in northwestern Hawaii the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument in June 2006. That's pronounced Pa-pa-hah-now-mo-koo-ah-keh-ah.

"It is very disappointing, here you have this designation as a monument, and there has been less visible activity going on in the monument," said Chris Woolaway, an independent environmental consultant, who coordinates The Ocean Conservancy's "Get the Drift and Bag It" international coastal cleanup program. "There is a need to expand the effort."

Ocean currents are still bringing an estimated 57 tons of garbage and discarded fishing gear to the 10 islands and the waters surrounding them each year. Endangered monk seals are still being snared and coral reefs smothered by discarded fishing nets. Albatrosses are still feeding on indigestible plastic and feeding it to their young.

And the Bush administration slashed the debris cleanup budget from the $2.1 million spent in 2005, requesting only $400,000 a year through 2008.

Then to read he is trying to go down as a Teddy Roosevelt President, with this last deal.
(I for one don't forget the other crap like this Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument. Now he adds three more for what reason to save his name a tiny bit?)
His 2006 monument! Pa-pa-hah-now-mo-koo-ah-keh-ah.

I guess the next paragraph about sums it up but for the sake of 'What' I have no idea, except to say he did some environmental good At this point any environmentalist would not care if the 'Devil' himself did it as long as finally we get it.

The administration's lack of follow-through hasn't stopped environmentalists from lobbying the president to designate more monuments before leaving office, a step the White House is considering. Declaring an area a national marine monument effectively stops commercial fishing and oil drilling.

In designating the marine areas, the President made explicit that nothing in the proclamations impairs or otherwise affects the activities of the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD). Among other things, the DoD is ensured full freedom of navigation in accordance with the law of the sea, and the U.S. Navy can continue effective training to maintain its antisubmarine warfare and other capabilities. 'Good for Aquatic wild-life'
(that may give a good answer as to 'WHY')

And to use the Huffing-ton as a source (Other link below) it was the first one I ran into out of several hits. This story is/was no secret one needed only be alert and look for it. But it would be a excellent 'you Betcha' the trashy news and budget cuts did not make frount page with this administration.

http://www.usatoday.com/n...8-08-07-Bush-Hawaii_N.htm

They also tried the Teddy Roosevelt thing with the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument just like they are with these last three.

I am not surprised the man needs (something to leave with) 'Good'
Personally, I wouldn't be surprised if he'd follow up with another announcement; Making another planet or the Moon as a wildlife refuge. 'Go Teddy Go' !!
Just a few more days and the hard work begins, the disaster of un-doing and the meager aspects of trying of trying to fix things.

grace06

I'd like to throw some shoes at him. We all knew the minute he was in office in 2000 that he would set the environment progress back 30 years, and yes he did and added 20 to it.

This Ocean saving thing he's up to commendable, but damn he has done everything in his power to dirty and destroy the environment, for not even caring if the drinking water is safe and always read 'his fine print on something like clean skies'

The reason it bothers me is we all very well know as soon as we get him out we can work on these things, so he is only showing off by this last venture and it sickens me to see the same old Gall, hes' had all these years try to convince some he is a goody two shoes.
Oh six