We have an opportunity to comment on the Antiquities Act, National Monuments in general and specifically the Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument.
Please take time to do so before July 10th!
The U.S. Department of the Interior is conducting a review of certain National Monuments designated or expanded since 1996 under the Antiquities Act of 1906. The Secretary of the Interior will use the review to determine whether each designation or expansion conforms to the policy stated in Executive Order 13792 and to formulate recommendations for Presidential actions, legislative proposals, or other appropriate actions to carry out that policy. This Notice identifies twenty-seven National Monuments under review and invites comments to inform the review.
Since one of the national monuments under consideration is the Upper Missouri River Breaks in MT implemented in 2001 that is now 377,346 acres including about 82,000 private deeded acres and about 39,000 acres of state land, a large number of us who live here in Central Montana are urging Ryan Zinke to advise President Trump to use his authority under the Antiquities Act to reduce the boundary of the Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument to conform to the current boundary of the Upper Missouri River Breaks Wild and Scenic River that was established in 1976.
Our recommendation is based on the following facts:
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In making the requisite determinations, the Secretary is directed to consider several items with the first being:
(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”;
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Nearly one-third of the monument area is comprised of either private land (82,000 acres) or state land (39,000 acres).
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Two-thirds of the monument’s access roads have been closed or seasonally restricted.
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Off-road travel is prohibited and vehicle travel for camping in the uplands is restricted to 50 feet from the road bed.
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Unneeded boating restrictions have been imposed in the river corridor of the monument.
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Additional restrictions were placed on natural gas development and exploration in the monument.
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The public was never provided a specific map of the area that was under consideration for protection prior to designation.
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Local/regional opposition to designation in the Breaks is well documented:
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In a February 24, 1999 letter to Montana legislators, the BLM stated that “The Secretary of Interior will support some form of designation in the Breaks if there is widespread local/regional favor.” There was only widespread opposition.
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The BLM surveyed 11 communities in the Breaks region during July 1999 and reported that “ Overall, the feedback expressed during open houses and in many comment letters opposed any changes along the Missouri and the idea of another federal designation has produced fairly universal opposition.”
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In 2001, the Montana House of Representatives passed House Resolution No. 2 opposing any new designation for the Missouri River or the Missouri Breaks.
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Fergus, Blaine, Judith Basin, Phillips and Choteau counties passed Joint County Resolution 1-2001 opposing the current national monument designation of the Upper Missouri River Breaks.
On August 28, 2001, Montana Governor Judy Martz recommended in her Task Force Report to DOI Secretary Gale Norton that “… the Secretary adjust the monument boundaries to include only the current Wild and Scenic River designation …”
Our recommendation for an adjusted monument boundary is consistent with Governor Martz’ recommendation and reflects the long standing position held by many other Montanans as well.
Please post your comments at the following site:
https://www.regulations.gov/comment?D=DOI-2017-0002-0001
Or you can mail your comments by July 10th to this address:
Monument Review
MS-1530
U.S. Department of the Interior
1849 C Street NW.
Washington, DC 20240.
In any communication, be sure to reference the identifier “DOI-2017-0002”.
In advance, thanks so much for your time at such a busy time of year,
Nancy Ereaux
Malta, Montana
(Nancy and Mike Ereaux’s family has ranched for three generations in Phillips County south of Malta.)
