Plan scales back Antiquities Act

Bill would limit new designations

WASHINGTON — Utah Rep. Rob Bishop pushed a bill through his committee Wednesday that would overhaul the Antiquities Act and limit presidents on future declarations of national monuments, prompting an outrcry from Democrats and environmental groups.

The bill was filed as President Donald Trump is reviewing recommendations by Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke to roll back recent national monuments created in Utah, Oregon, Nevada’s Gold Butte, and two marine monuments.

Bishop, chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, said the bill would force future presidents to seek federal environmental review process for national monument declarations of more than 640 acres.

Anything more than 10,000 acres would require approval by state and local governments.

The Utah Republican said previous presidents, both Republican and Democrat, have formulated national monuments “in the dark” and popped them out with “gotcha” declarations.

Bishop said his bill “requires accountability from any president in the future.”

Democrats on the Natural Resources panel said the bill is an attempt to rewrite the 1906 law that allowed presidents to preserve spectacular swaths of land, many which later became national parks, like the Grand Canyon.

Rep. Ruben Gallego, D-ariz., said almost every recent national monument declaration would have been prohibited under the Bishop bill.

The legislation would give a president unprecedented authority to shrink current national monuments, said Rep. Alan Lowenthal, D-calif., by as much as 85,000 acres.

Environmental groups called the legislation an “extreme bill” to gut the law.

“This is the most aggressive attack ever waged on America’s national parks and monuments,” said Sharon Buccino, director of the Natural Resources Defense Council program for land and wildlife.

“Congressman Bishop should recognize the committee he leads is meant to protect our natural resources, not destroy them,” said Rose Marcario, Patagonia president and chief executive officer.

The Heritage Foundation has urged Congress to rewrite the Antiquities Act and turn land management over to states.

Although the bill passed out of committee, 23-17, it must still receive full approval of the House.

No companion legislation has been filed in the Senate, where Republicans hold a slim 52-48 majority and any attempt to dilute the Antiquities Act is expected to be met with opposition by Democrats.

Bishop has been a critic of recent declarations, and urged Trump to review President Barack Obama’s declaration of Bears Ears in Utah, and Gold Butte in Nevada, last December.

Trump ordered Zinke to review 27 monument declarations over the past two decades. Zinke completed the review in August and submitted it to the White House.

The White House is still mulling the Zinke recommendations.

According to a memo leaked to news organizations, Zinke has recommended that Gold Butte, Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-escalante, also in Utah, and Cascade-siskiyou in Oregon be trimmed.

Two marine national monuments, Pacific Remote Islands and Rose Atoll were listed for modification.

Contact Gary Martin at 202-6627390 or gmartin@reviewjournal. com. Follow @garymartindc on Twitter.