Office of the Secretary

For Immediate Release: March 28, 2001

Contact Mark Pfeifle: (202) 208-6416

Secretary Norton Listens, Seeks Local Voices to Bring
Common Sense and Balance to National Monument Plans

(WASHINGTON) - In a letter sent today to local officials of all political affiliations, Interior Secretary Gale Norton asked for their ideas regarding federally mandated land use management plans for national monuments that were set aside by the previous administration. The letter, sent to governors, members of Congress, state house and senate leaders, county commissioners and tribal chairmen, opens up lines of communication with leaders in the Virgin Islands and nine states that had monuments designated in 2000 or 2001.

"The Department of the Interior is tasked by law to develop sound management plans for new national monuments. My Department is committed to bringing common sense and balance to the decision making process by listening to people who were most affected by the sudden designations," said Secretary Norton. "I want to hear local voices and ideas on how best to protect, use and care for these precious national treasures for generations to come."

"The Interior Department is opening up lines of communication with local people that were not always properly fostered in the past. Local people have intimate knowledge of their land and can offer first-hand insight and perspective to promote stewardship in these cherished areas.

"We are dedicated to charting a new course of responsibility. President Bush and I want to partner with local people at the beginning - not at the end of the process," said Secretary Norton.

The previous administration - in their final hours - designated over one million acres of National Monuments. In 2000 and 2001, the total amount of monument land designated was over 3 million acres - about the size of the state of Connecticut. The letter initiates the Department's effort to gather information to determine an appropriate future for each monument.

"One of the most disturbing discoveries was that the previous administration took little trouble to assure that the monuments will be adequately maintained," Secretary Norton said. "They didn't include needed funds to hire rangers to protect the monuments. They didn't even include money to put up signs so visitors can actually find the new monuments. Worst of all, they failed to effectively partner with local property owners, elected officials and other people whose lives were affected by the last minute designations."

"The Interior Department is also dedicated to listening to all people to develop real results, instead of focusing on conflict and divisiveness," concluded Secretary Norton.

U.S. Department of the Interior