Office of the Secretary

For Immediate Release: December 22, 2000

Contact: John Wright 202/208-6416

Secretary Babbitt makes Monument Recommendations
to President Clinton

Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt announced today that he is sending recommendations to President Clinton that five areas of federal land be considered for protection under the Antiquities Act. The proposed national monuments would be located on lands currently managed by the federal government in Montana, California and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

"These natural landscapes are unique, historic American treasures," said Babbitt. "They need more care and protection than we are giving them now, so I am asking the President to designate them as national monuments."

Upper Missouri River Breaks - The proposed Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument is in central Montana, and spans 149 miles of the Upper Missouri River, the adjacent Breaks country, and portions of Arrow Creek, Antelope Creek, and the Judith River. It covers approximately 377,346 acres of federal land, including the Missouri Breaks country north of the Missouri River.

Pompeys Pillar - The proposed Pompeys Pillar National Monument is on 51 acres of federal land along the Yellowstone River in central Montana, approximately 25 miles east of Billings. Its geologic distinction as the only major sandstone formation in the area, have made it a celebrated landmark and outstanding observation point for more than 11 thousand years of human occupation.

Carrizo Plain - The proposed Carrizo Plain National Monument is located in central California, just off the southwest edge of the San Joaquin Valley, between San Luis Obispo and Bakersfield. Elevations within the proposed monument range from 2,000 to 2,500 feet above sea level. It covers approximately 204,107 acres of federal land. Dramatically bisected by the San Andreas Fault zone, the area is the largest undeveloped remnant of this ecosystem, providing crucial habitats for the long-term conservation of the many endemic plant and animal species that still inhabit the area.

U.S. Virgin Island Coral Reef - The proposed U.S. Virgin Islands Coral Reef National Monument includes 12,708 acres of federal submerged lands within the 3-mile belt off of St. John, including Hurricane Hole and areas north and south of St. John. The area contains all the elements of a Caribbean tropical marine ecosystem. This designation furthers the protection of the scientific objects included in the Virgin Islands National Park.

Buck Island Reef National Monument Expansion - The proposed Buck Island Reef National Monument expansion includes 18,135 marine acres of federal submerged lands off of St. Croix, within the 3-mile belt around Buck Island. Buck Island Reef National Monument was established on December 28, 1961 (Presidential Proclamation 3443) just north of St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The 1961 Proclamation describes Buck Island and its "adjoining shoals, rocks, and undersea coral reef formations" as "one of the finest marine gardens in the Caribbean Sea," which are of "great scientific interest and educational value to students of the sea and to the public."

In the past few months, Secretary Babbitt has visited each area and discussed protection options with local elected officials and residents. The nature and extent of protection to be provided to each area -- and the types of uses that would continue to be permitted -- would be specified at the time of monument designation, should the President decide to accept the Secretary's recommendations.

The Antiquities Act authorizes the President to create national monuments on federal land to protect objects of historic and scientific interest.

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To Review Fact Sheets and Maps Click on the Proposed Monuments below: