Presidents cannot “un-declare” national monuments that have been acknowledged by their predecessors under the Antiquities Act. But, it turns out, they can change the boundaries and the uses of the protected areas. At President Trump’s behest, Secretary Zinke has set out to do just that.
At President Trump’s behest, Secretary Ryan Zinke has set out to redefine the boundaries and the uses of the Bears Ears National Monument, as declared by President Obama on December 28, 2016.
Secretary Zinke’s recommendation to President Trump, delivered in mid-June, would draw lines around certain known sacred sites, burial grounds, petroglyphs and ancient cliff-dwellings, but would otherwise allow multiple uses of the area. Since most recreational uses are already included in the monument declaration – the additional uses presumably include commercial and resource mining and drilling operations. Secretary Zinke’s proposal would also include co-management with the tribes of some designated areas within the monument — a limited version of the co-management model proposed by the five tribes in the area.
The Bears Ears Coalition – a partnership of the Hopi, Navajo, Uintah & Ouray Ute, Ute Mountain Ute, and Zuni governments – worked for years with residents of the area and with previous administrations to have the monument acknowledged. The Coalition has issued a statement condemning Secretary Zinke’s proposal. They emphasize the importance of appreciating the land as a whole — not a collection of special features:
“The Bears Ears region is not a series of isolated objects, but the object itself, a connected, living landscape, where the place, not a collection of items, must be protected. You cannot reduce the size without harming the whole… The wonderful Bears Ears National Monument is a gift to the citizens of the United States and the world. Once experienced, the physical beauty of the red-rock terrain and the cultural power of the Old People stay with visitors forever.”
The Department of the Interior has received more than 685,000 comments in favor of the monument. It’s your turn to add your voice.
What three points would you like to make in your comments?
The comment period on the proposed re-characterization of the Bears Ears Monument has been extended to July 10.You can send your comments or post them on-line 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.
Resources
Our partner organization, Creation Justice Ministries, has taken the lead on gathering, disseminating and posting statements, videos, and news about the struggle to protect Bears Ears. Check their website, especially for social media suggestions.
FCNL’s background story on Bears Ears: Monumental Decisions to Protect Ancestral Lands
FCNL’s story on President Obama’s proclamation of the Bears Ears Monument: Update on Bears Ears
Take an interactive tour of Bears Ears.
For background on the struggle over Bears Ears monument status, see “Will Bears Ears Remain a National Monument?” by Jane Bullinger in The Atlantic, June 9, 2017.
Tribal Leaders Speak Out
On May 3, tribal leaders from the five partner tribes came to Washington to hold a press conference calling on Secretary Zinke and President Trump to meet with them. The live webcast is here.
Navajo Nation Speaker LoRenzo C. Bates responded to Secretary Zinke’s report to President Trump (via Twitter). Navajo Council Delegate Davis Filfred also responded. The Bears Ears Coalition maintains a running list of media resources here.
*Admonition of President Theodore Roosevelt, in declaring the 800,000 acre Grand Canyon National Monument under the Antiquities Act.