Secretary Babbitt Refuses to Provide List of Potential National Monuments
 
October 19, 1999   
 
ID: RESOURCES COMM    
 
202-223=8638

#46970

Rep. John Shadegg

Contact: John Pappas
202-225-3361


Washington, D.C. - In sworn testimony during today's National Parks and Public Lands Subcommittee hearing, Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt refused to provide the committee with a list of federal, state and private lands being considered for national monument designation.

Secretary Babbitt's refusal came after Congressman John Shadegg (R-AZ) asked if the Secretary would be willing to provide a list of all national monument proposals currently being discussed w·ithin the Administration.

Babbitt's unwillingness to supply the list is of significant concern to Shadegg and the entire Congress. In 1996, when the president designated the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in Utah, the Clinton Administration did so without consulting the Utah congressional delegation, the U. S. Congress or most importantly the people of Utah.
 
The president even denied his intention to declare the area as a national monument -- in a conversation the night before with the Governor of Utah.

"It is precisely this type of arrogant refusal to communicate which makes amending the Antiquities Act of 1906 essential to keeping presidential powers in check. The American people and their congrssional representatives should not be left out of land-use decisions which have significant local impact," said Shadegg.
"Any process which gives the President complete discretion to make a major land-use designation should be extremely troubling to any individual who believes in the importance of the separation of powers doctrine established by the United States Constitution," said Congressman Jim Hansen (R-UT), Chairman of the Subcommittee.
  
Today's Subcommittee hearing was focused on legislation to establish the Shivwits Plateau in Arizona as a National Conservation Area.
Congressman Bob Stump (R-AZ), the author of the legislation said, "This designation would protect the Shivwits Plateau from the Administration's attempts to do an end-run around Congress and designate the area as a national monument."