Interior Secretary Makes Plans to Manage National Monuments

WASHINGTON - Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton announced today her intention to develop plans managing the national monuments established under the department's jurisdiction in 2000 and 2001.

"It's important that we begin the process of developing plans for managing these national treasures," Norton said. "While I share concerns about the way in which these monuments were created, it's our job now to see that we develop land use plans in an open, inclusive, and comprehensive way." Designations of certain monuments - most of which are located in the American West - had occurred over the objections of some local residents.

In a letter to elected officials in states containing one or more of the 17 national monuments in question, the Secretary promoted the land use planning process as an illustration of her management philosophy. According to Norton, the planning for the future management of these monuments will be a model of "what I call the Four C's: Consultation, Cooperation, and Communication, all in the service of Conservation. The department is committed to management and protection of the monuments consistent with the Four C's, our interim management guidance, and the purposes established in the proclamations."

Norton also called on the relevant agencies under her jurisdiction to conduct the planning process with maximum input from local communities. "I am challenging the Bureau of Land Management and the National Park Service to make the planning process a model of how to involve the people who live and work closest to these monuments," she said.

BLM Director Kathleen Clarke stated that the BLM will take this opportunity to look at expanded opportunities for direct citizen participation in monument planning and stewardship. "Our door is open," Clarke said. "If the planning and management process for the monuments is to be effective, we must make sure it is citizen centered. We must ensure that local communities have a true stake in these national monuments to guarantee that generations of future Americans can enjoy them too."

Notices published today in the Federal Register formally start the planning at many monuments and provide for a minimum 60-day formal scoping period to identify issues to consider and analyze regarding management at each monument. These notices are available online at www.nara.gov/fedreg. More information about these national monuments is available on the web at www.blm.gov.

The BLM, an agency of the U.S. Department of the Interior, manages 262 million surface acres, located primarily in 12 Western states, including Alaska. These lands, once remote, now provide the growing communities of the West with open space that gives the region much of its character. The Bureau, which has a budget of $1.8 billion and a workforce of 10,000 employees, also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the Nation. The BLM's "multiple use" mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. The BLM accomplishes this by managing for such resources as outdoor recreation, livestock grazing, and energy and mineral development that helps meet the nation's energy needs, and by conserving natural, historical, cultural, and other resources on the public lands.

Basic Text of Letter Follows:

The guiding principle of the Department of the Interior is what I call the Four C's: Consultation, Cooperation, and Communication, all in the service of Conservation. The Department is committed to management and protection of the monuments consistent with the Four C's, our interim management guidance, and the purposes established in the proclamations.

After reviewing all of the comments on each monument, I believe most of the issues can be addressed through the management planning process, which will include comprehensive public input. I have directed the managing agencies to maintain current uses during the interim management period, except to the extent restricted by the Proclamations and other applicable law or regulation, and have strongly encouraged them to use creative, non-traditional management options. I have also directed these agencies to utilize this opportunity to include you and your constituents at the outset of the planning process for the monuments.

Specifically, I am encouraging consideration of the following types of management approaches to the extent they are consistent with the Proclamations, and other applicable laws:

• Expanded opportunities for direct citizen participation in monument planning and stewardship management through citizen advisory councils, such as Resource Advisory Councils or other forms of local collaborative groups;

• Land exchanges as way of resolving access and resource protection problems with State lands, mineral and grazing interests, and wildlife habitat;

• Conservation and other creative easements that help to protect values in the monuments while respecting private property interests;

• Greater reliance on local governments, volunteer groups, and businesses to provide existing and new monument services through contracts and agreements;

• Partnership arrangements for management of ongoing, traditional activities, such as grazing, recreation, and other uses authorized by the monument proclamation; and

• A transportation plan that is developed with input from those who use the roads, trails, and waterways in the area.

Your involvement in assisting the Department of the Interior to develop the appropriate management strategy is invaluable. We welcome your comments and look forward to continuing to work with you.

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