Public Comment Period Now Open on National Monument Review

Editor's note: the comment period has been extended to July 10th.

An executive order passed by the Trump Administration on April 26th instructed Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke to review any national monument designated via the Antiquities Act since January 1, 1996, that spans at least 100,000 acres. 22 land-based monuments and five marine monuments are under review and now is the time to comment and make your voice heard.

Signed into law by Theodore Roosevelt in 1906, the Antiquities Act authorizes presidents to protect important archaeological, historic and scientific resources on public lands. The public comment period will be open until July 10.

Prehistoric Granary overlooks Cedar Mesa, Utah. Photographer: Josh Ewing

Those wishing to add comments can follow this link to leave them online or send by mail to Monument Review, MS-1530, U.S. Department of the Interior, 1849 C Street NW, Washington, DC 20240. Before including your personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment may be made publicly available at any time.

Carrizo Plain Superbloom, California Photo: BLM/croft.de

Comments can address economic benefits of public lands for tourism, protection of historic and sacred sites, personal experiences had in these monuments, the history of the Antiquities Act, the importance of protecting our public lands for future generations to enjoy, or any opinion you have on the Executive order to review these monuments.

The Wave, Vermilion Cliffs National Monument Photo: Sirena Dufault

Here are the monuments under review:

Basin and Range	Nevada	2015
Bears Ears	Utah	2016
Berryessa Snow Mountain	California	2015
Canyons of the Ancients	Colorado	2000
Carrizo Plain	California	2001
Cascade Siskiyou	Oregon	2000/2017
Craters of the Moon	Idaho	1924/2000
Giant Sequoia	California	2000
Gold Butte	Nevada	2016
Grand Canyon-Parashant	Arizona	2000
Grand Staircase-Escalante	Utah	1996
Hanford Reach	Washington	2000
Ironwood Forest	Arizona	2000
Katahdin Woods and Waters	Maine	2016
Mojave Trails	California	2016
Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks	New Mexico	2014
Rio Grande del Norte	New Mexico	2013
Sand to Snow	California	2016
San Gabriel Mountains	California	2014
Sonoran Desert	Arizona	2001
Upper Missouri River Breaks	Montana	2001
Vermilion Cliffs	Arizona	2000
Marine monuments:
Marianas Trench	CNMI/Pacific Ocean	2009
Northeast Canyons and Seamounts	Atlantic Ocean	2016
Pacific Remote Islands	Pacific Ocean	2009
Papahanaumokuakea	Hawaii/Pacific Ocean	2006/2016
Rose Atoll	American Samoa/Pacific Ocean	2009

Katahdin Woods and Waters, Maine Photo: Jeremy Sheaffer

Here are the criteria for review, taken from the Interior Department's website:

(i) the requirements and original objectives of the Act, including the Act's requirement that reservations of land not exceed "the smallest area compatible with the proper care and management of the objects to be protected";

(ii) whether designated lands are appropriately classified under the Act as "historic landmarks, historic and prehistoric structures, [or] other objects of historic or scientific interest";

(iii) the effects of a designation on the available uses of designated Federal lands, including consideration of the multiple-use policy of section 102(a)(7) of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (43 U.S.C. 1701(a)(7)), as well as the effects on the available uses of Federal lands beyond the monument boundaries;

(iv) the effects of a designation on the use and enjoyment of non-Federal lands within or beyond monument boundaries;

(v) concerns of State, tribal, and local governments affected by a designation, including the economic development and fiscal condition of affected States, tribes, and localities;

(vi) the availability of Federal resources to properly manage designated areas; and

(vii) such other factors as the Secretary deems appropriate.

82 FR 20429-20430 (May 1, 2017).

Be sure to get your public comment in by July 10and make your voice heard!