Protect National Monuments

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  Carrizo Plain National Monument
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  Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument
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  Sand to Snow National Monument
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  Mojave Trails National Monument, NASA Photo
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  Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument. USFS Photo
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  Giant Sequoia National Monument

Stop Any Elimination of Protection for Our Precious National Monuments

MAY 2019 UPDATE:  “U.S. Interior Secretary David Bernhardt says he has no plans for additional changes to national monuments as recommended by his predecessor, but says it’s ultimately up to President Donald Trump.  Trump in 2017 shrank two sprawling Utah monuments at the recommendation of former Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke. The president has not acted on Zinke’s proposal to shrink two monuments in Oregon and Nevada and change rules at six others.”(Associated Press, May 22, 2029).

THE LATEST: Over  2.4 million comments were received during the comment period.  Our thanks to those individuals that commented. 

On August 24, the Interior Department released a two-page summary report.  Attached is the link to the summary report, REPORT SUMMARY BY U.S. SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR RYAN ZINKE, regarding the national monument review. Simply put, the report lacks any detail about how and which of our monuments are recommended to be “altered.”  However, all 27 monuments under “review” will continue and are not recommended for elimination. 

OUR LETTER:Letter to Secretary of Interior opposing alteration of size and scope of Bears Ears National Monument

The Trump Administration is “reviewing” the status of 27 national monuments designated by past presidents. This review could result in removing or reducing the size of these treasured public lands from critical protection. It is time to stand up. They are important to all of us for recreation, resource protection, sustainable tourism, and clean air and water. Public lands belong to all Americans, forever. Your voice is needed now.

Here is some information copied from the Department of Interior announcement of the comment period. See below for address to send comments or enter directly online at http://regulations.gov.

Summary.  The U.S. Department of the Interior is conducting a review of certain National Monuments designated or expanded since 1996 under the Antiquities Act of 1906 in order to implement Executive Order 13792 of April 26, 2017. The Secretary of the Interior will use the review to determine whether each designation or expansion conforms to the policy stated in the Executive Order and to formulate recommendations for Presidential actions, legislative proposals, or other appropriate actions to carry out that policy. This Notice identifies twenty-seven National Monuments under review and invites comments to inform the review.

Dates.  Written comments relating to all other National Monuments must be submitted before July 10, 2017.

Addresses.  You may submit written comments online 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.

Supplementary Information.  Executive Order 13792 of April 26, 2017 (82 FR 20429, May 1, 2017), directs the Secretary of the Interior to review certain National Monuments designated or expanded under the Antiquities Act of 1906, 54 U.S.C. 320301-320303 (Act). Specifically, Section 2 of the Executive Order directs the Secretary to conduct a review of all Presidential designations or expansions of designations under the Antiquities Act made since January 1, 1996, where the designation covers more than 100,000 acres, where the designation after expansion covers more than 100,000 acres, or where the Secretary determines that the designation or expansion was made without adequate public outreach and coordination with relevant stakeholders, to determine whether each designation or expansion conforms to the policy set forth in section 1 of the order. Among other provisions, Section 1 states that designations should reflect the Act’s “requirements and original objectives” and “appropriately balance the protection of landmarks, structures, and objects against the appropriate use of Federal lands and the effects on surrounding lands and communities.” 82 FR 20429 (May 1, 2017).

In making the requisite determinations, the Secretary is directed to consider:

(i) The requirements and original objectives of the Act, including the Act’s requirement that reservations of land not exceed “the smallest area compatible with the proper care and management of the objects to be protected”;

(ii) whether designated lands are appropriately classified under the Act as “historic landmarks, historic and prehistoric structures, [or] other objects of historic or scientific interest”;

(iii) the effects of a designation on the available uses of designated Federal lands, including consideration of the multiple-use policy of section 102(a)(7) of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (43 U.S.C. 1701(a)(7)), as well as the effects on the available uses of Federal lands beyond the monument boundaries;

(iv) the effects of a designation on the use and enjoyment of non-Federal lands within or beyond monument boundaries;

(v) concerns of State, tribal, and local governments affected by a designation, including the economic development and fiscal condition of affected States, tribes, and localities;

(vi) the availability of Federal resources to properly manage designated areas; and

(vii) such other factors as the Secretary deems appropriate. 82 FR 20429-20430 (May 1, 2017).

The National Monuments being initially reviewed are listed in the following tables.

The Department of the Interior seeks public comments related to: (1) Whether national monuments in addition to those listed above should be reviewed because they were designated or expanded after January 1, 1996 “without adequate public outreach and coordination with relevant stakeholders;” and (2) the application of factors (i) through (vii) to the listed national monuments or to other Presidential designations or expansions of designations meeting the criteria of the Executive Order. With respect to factor (vii), comments should address other factors the Secretary might consider for this review.

In a separate but related process, certain Marine National Monuments will also be reviewed. As directed by section 4 of Executive Order 13795 of April 28, 2017, “Implementing an America-First Offshore Energy Strategy” (82 FR 20815, May 3, 2017), the Department of Commerce will lead the review of the Marine National Monuments in consultation with the Secretary of the Interior. To assist in that consultation, the Secretary will accept comments related to the application of factors (i) through (vii) in Executive Order 13792 as set forth above to the following Marine National Monuments:

Recent Activity

Letter to Secretary of Interior opposing alteration of size and scope of Bears Ears National Monument