Antiquities Act Revision Legislation

[Grumpy]

Legislation Introduced to Limit Monument Designation

Dear BRC Action Alert Subscriber,

We wanted to make our members aware of an effort in Washington, DC, to do something about the ability of any U.S. President to unilaterally establish massive National Monuments without any input from the public or state and local governments.

Last month Utah Representative Rob Bishop, Chairman of the Public Lands and Environmental Regulation Subcommittee, criticized President Obama's use of the century-old Antiquities Act to create five new national monuments. The Antiquities Act, established in 1906, gives the executive branch the authority to restrict access to federally owned land by circumventing the open, public process typically taken by Congress to establish new land designations, including national monuments.

The administration has made known its intention to designate numerous new National Monuments across the West, including popular recreation destinations such as Moab, Utah.

The Treasured Landscape Initiative LINK
Another Massive National Monument Pushed In Utah! LINK
Important Follow-up on Massive National Monument Pushed in Utah! (Continued) LINK

In an effort to bring greater public and local government involvement in establishing new National Monuments, Congressman Bishop has introduced legislation that would require a full public review and comment process, as well as environmental review, prior to Monument designation.

The effort here is to use the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to restore the intent of the Antiquities Act, which is to protect objects of national significance using only the smallest area possible. Bishop's bill would not preclude any new National Monument. Rather, it would require a NEPA review so that the public and local governments could at least have a voice in any new National Monument over 5000 acres. Bishop also wants Congress to approve any Presidential proclamation within three years.

A Congressional hearing is scheduled next week to consider Bishop's proposal, as well as legislation that would require Congressional approval for new monuments in New Mexico, Utah, Idaho, Nevada and Montana. Congressional approval is already required in Wyoming and Alaska.

Watch your email inbox for more information on this hearing and how you can make your voice heard. When you see our Action Alert on this issue, be sure to forward it to your friends and family!

Finally, a heartfelt thanks to our members and contributors. And as always, if you have any questions or concerns, please contact BRC.

Brian Hawthorne
Public Lands Policy Director
BlueRibbon Coalition
208-237-1008 ext 102

[Grumpy]

Phooie! Links didn't come through. You get the picture tho. The push in Utah would close 9 million acres. A bit much in one state maybe? To say nothing of it being an end run on the system