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Show THE SAN JUAN RECORD Wednesday, November 17, 1999 - Page 6 vx. n A. W VSW'tWV. V CtOSERIiOOK vss H National Monument? In his response, Babbitt reunilateral declaration of the peats his belief that oil and gas Escalante National Monu- development and livestock Grand StaircaseEscalante National Monument in 1996 ment, Babbitt declared that grazing are cbmpatible with the ma- the management of the area. happened in Colorado ranchers, oilmen, San Juan nagement plan for the and recreationists worry that Countys backabsence In the monument creating a new monument in ofprompt legislative action, I will yard, the Presiwould be the southwestern part of the dent may be recommend to the President that he proceed with a developed state will shut them out. Enconsidering a establish a national monument. vironmentalists are concerned in cooperaproclamation to similar designa- Bruce Babbitt, Secretary of the Interior tion with that having a national monution, this time local gov- ment with a big oil and gas in San Juan ernments. field in it could lead to inconCountys front The local sistent policies. yard. Issues to be addressed inThe rhetoric from Secretary of public meetings, submitted governments have refused to of the Interior Bruce Babbitts a report in which they stated endorse the management clude the extensive privately-owne- d lands within the area. office is heating up regarding that they heard overwhelmplan, but Babbitt signed it into In e law on November Anasazi Cuaddition, one site, Lowry the 165,000-acr15, setting ingly from the local commuoff another flurry of lawsuits. Ruin, is listed on the National ltural Multiple Use Area of nity that there should be no inisSome of the overarching creased federal intervention in Critical Environmental ConRegister of Historic places. cern, a vast area along the San management of the area. The sues that emerged from the Two sites, Sand, East Rock Juan County border in south- concern raised by the Secrepublic process include the need Canyons and Cannonball western Utah. Locally, the tary of the Interior appears to to protect cultural resources, Ruin, have been formally n area is also known as McElmo be a concern, rather to identify and control vandal- nominated for listing on Dome, the site of extensive oil, than a grassroots consensus of ism, a strong local consensus the National Register of for multiple use, the need to Historic Places. the region. The question regas and C02 reserves. Other signifiOfficials in Colorado say peatedly asked was, What was protect the economic base of cocant sites inBabbitt is close to suggesting the problem that prompted the community, to support llaboration to protect the area, clude Mockingthe designation of a National this process? An area BLM employee, who and to avoid actions that inbird Monument for the area. The Mesa, McLean Basin of crease visitation without Interior and Department requests anonymity, said, the Clinton proper re- Towers, Cow If President Bill Clintons citizens working group to analyze the 165,000 acre area. The local group, after studying the issue and holding a series cerning the unilateral declaration of the Grand Staircase top-dow- were the focus of sharp criticism in 1996, This whole process came from the Secretary's office. We have not been involved at all. Area BLM employee when Clinton unilaterally declared the Grand StaircaseEscalante National Monument in south central Utah. Subsequent investigation and Congressional hearings have shown that the declaration of the 1.7 million acre national monument in 1996 was influenced heavily by political concerns. A series of hearings and sharply worded legislative proposals would restrict further use of the Antiquities Acts to unilaterally declare National Monuments. However, the Clinton Administration is proceding nonetheless, prepar- and Sand Canyon west of Cortez. The proposed national monument would encircle the Colorado portions of Hoven-wee- p National Monument. After visiting the area, Babbitt called for the creation of a includes 20,000 known sites of an-- c estra1 Puebloan This whole process came from the Secretarys office. We have not been involved at all. Despite the lack of local support for the process and concerns of Colorado elected officials, Babbitt appears to be moving forward with recommendation to declare a national monument. The Cortez Journal reports that in a long-awaite- d re- sponse to the local citizens working group, Babbitt made it clear that he sees only two realistic options for managing the area: making it either a national monument or a national conservation area. Babbitt writes, In the absence of prompt legislative action, I will recommend to the President that he proceed with a proclamation to establish a national monument under the Antiquities Act. Babbitts reply drew a sharp ing proposals that could declare up to ten new national monuments under the Antiquities Act in the next year. Babbitt took a short tour of the area in May and has insisted ever since that he believes the Anasazi ruins need better protection through a change in status. The land was designated as response from Colorado the Anasazi Cultural Multiple elected officials. Sean Conway, Use Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) in 1985. At issue are thousands of ancient sites and countless relics, including the Lowry Ruin west of Pleasant View sources. The area spokesman for Senator Wayne Allard, said To this point, the Secretary has never presented the delegation any guidelines, any suggestions, or demonstrated a willingness to meet with us on this issue. Communication is a two-wa- y street. It is very difficult to work with the Secretary on this issue when he is not communicating. After the public outrage con Anasazi settlement. Opponents to the designation have expressed concern about possible restrictions of the multiple uses now allowed in the area and looting brought about by publicity of the now little-know- n region. Mesa, Squaw Papoose Canyon, Painted Hand Petroglyphs, Painted Hand Ruin, Hamilton Mesa and Cahone Cross |