Stop Presidential Abuse of Antiquities Act and Proposed Siskiyou Crest Monument

We, the undersigned American citizens, consider the President’s use of the Antiquities Act to declare national monuments in executive order fashion fundamentally undemocratic.

The establishment of national monuments, wilderness areas or other significant changes to Federal public lands must be enacted by the US Congress, and with full and ample opportunity to consider all constituency perspectives. When the Antiquities Act was first debated, one of the issues concerned how much land could be set aside for a monument and the debate focused on 320 or 640 acres, not the hundreds of thousands of acres we regularly see Presidents target today. We support legislation intended to restrict the President’s use of the Antiquities Act and to ensure a more democratic process.

The Obama Administration is considering the establishment of 13 new national monuments. Many of these would include Federal land boundaries that surround thousands of private properties. For example, the proposed Siskiyou Crest National Monument would incorporate approximately 600,000 acres and over 1,400 private properties in Northern California and Southern Oregon.

Recent history offers examples of national monument declarations that proved harmful to private property values, while reducing usage and access rights to public lands. Environmental organizations champion national monuments. Ironically, the establishment of national monuments without a careful and deliberative process can result in outcomes contrary to sound environmental stewardship. The Sequoia National Monument offers a clear example. It was established by Presidential proclamation on April 15, 2000 as an extension of the Sequoia National Park and after ten years, a management plan has yet to be developed. As court battles rage, the forest is not being managed to prevent catastrophic large-scale fires nor optimum health.

Supporters often argue national monuments increase property values and lead to stronger adjacent community economies. On the contrary, regions must be judged on a case-by-case basis. The Siskiyou Crest offers a perfect example where the tourist economy argument fails. The region does have an existing small and vibrant tourist economy, primarily based in Southern Oregon, with wineries, arts in Ashland, and the historic town of Jacksonville serving as anchor attractions.

Nevertheless, establishment of a national monument in the Siskiyou Crest will not increase tourism because current out-of-town tourist traffic heading specifically for hiking and camping in the Siskiyou Crest is modest in size. The Siskiyou Crest has been reasonably well managed by the US Forest Service and BLM for decades. Declaring a monument isn’t going to make the region more beautiful, better managed or increase tourist traffic. Most of the tourist dollars that flow to the region have little to do with activity related to the Siskiyou Crest. Monument status will not change this fact.

The undersigned oppose executive-order style use of the Antiquities Act. Regions like the Siskiyou Crest should not be locked-up by Presidential fiat.