Contact: Adena Cook, Public Lands Director
Phone: 208-524-3062
Fax: 208-524-2836
June 7, 2001
IDAHO FALLS, ID Congressman Mike Simpson (R-ID) and James Hansen (R-ID) today introduced a bill that will limit vast areas of public land from being designated as National Monuments by executive fiat. The bill amends the Antiquities Act to give some structure and process to the currently existing unilateral executive declaration. It also requires Congressional approval for new national monuments and additions over 50,000 acres within 2 years of a declaration.
This bill is similar to H.R. 1487, which was introduced by House Resources Committee Chairman Hansen in the last Congress. In addition to congressional approval, it requires that the creation of a monument and monument addition over 50,000 acres be first submitted to a states governor and congressional delegation for comment, and receive comment from the public.
Adena Cook, BlueRibbon Coalition Public Lands Director, said, We applaud this common sense legislation that adds procedural requirements to the Antiquities Act. In the last administration, we in the West felt like sitting ducks when Babbitt would swoop in, unannounced, and call an ad-hoc town meeting somewhere. When he arrived, we had no procedural standing for a reasoned response. Hed gotten his marching orders from a radical environmental wish-list, and that was it.
No matter what we said or did, no matter what our governor or members of congress said or did, Babbitt would recommend a monument. President Clinton, like a king with a wand, would then issue a proclamation with appropriate fanfare and well-staged acclimation.
Eighteen monuments totaling over 5.6 million acres were declared by Clinton by executive fiat, without the consent of the people. Its sad that these monument declarations will only add another layer of bureaucracy and restrictions. They will not protect the land as well as local management.
Cook concluded, Even though a new administration is in charge that may feel differently about using the Antiquities Act in this way, it does not mean that the laws shortcomings should not be addressed. This legislation will make sure that future monuments are supported by a broad constituency and are worthy of declaration.
