In an address to Utah’s elected leaders, the President announced he was signing two executive orders to reduce the boundaries of the Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments. He also was critical of the prior misuse of the Antiquities Act by former presidents.
While the Act is credited for preserving many of America’s greatest natural treasures (like the Grand Canyon) in the decades after its enactment in 1906, several recent presidents have designated multi-million-acre “monuments” that go beyond the original intent of the Act.
These designations, which sometimes limit or restrict access to hunting opportunities, are often made with little or no input from the affected Western states or from local stakeholders, including hunters and anglers.
On more than one occasion, the creation of a national monument has temporarily or permanently put an end to long-standing hunting opportunities.
SCI members made modernizing the Antiquities Act one of its top requests to Members of Congress during this year’s D.C. Lobby Day in May.
As SCI President Paul Babaz stated last week: “With this announcement, the Trump Administration is affirming the benefit of traditional land uses, such as hunting and recreational shooting, to our nation’s resource management.”
SCI is also notes that the President’s actions were supported by a thorough review of 27 National Monuments by Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke.
In his report, which was released Dec. 6, Secretary Zinke outlined the key recommendations he made to President Trump.
The report noted the Department’s goal was to “keep federal lands federal.” In other words, he did not recommend the removal of any acreage from federal control. “If land no longer falls within a monument boundary,” notes an Interior summary, “it will continue to be federal land and will be managed by whichever agency managed the land before designation.”
Secretary Zinke’s report recommends the addition of three new national monuments in Montana, Kentucky and Mississippi and modification of the boundaries and management of four monuments – Bears Ears, Grand Staircase, Cascade-Siskiyou and Gold Butte National Monuments.
Importantly for sportsmen and women, Secretary Zinke is seeking to expand access for hunting and fishing. One approach is to establish an ongoing review to ensure more public access and encourage hunting and fishing in monuments.
Last week’s decision by the President and the Secretary recognizes the need to involve all stakeholders in the process for establishing monuments and regulating their use. SCI will work with the Administration to help protect the existing hunting opportunities on the lands within and near the Bears Ears and Grand Staircase Escalante National Monuments.
Read the full report here: https://www.doi.gov/sites/doi.gov/files/uploads/revised_final_report.pdf
DOI press release:
