Technical Comments Submitted to National Monuments Review

President Trump’s Executive Order on the Review of Designations Under the Antiquities Act signed on April 26, 2017 directs the Secretary of the Department of Interior to provide the Office of Management and Budget and President Trump with potential recommendations “for such Presidential actions, legislative proposals, or other actions consistent with law as the Secretary may consider appropriate to carry out the policy set forth in section 1 of this order.” Section 1 of the order broadly talks about public input, economic growth, the “original objectives” of the Antiquities Act and “appropriately balanc[ing] the protection of landmarks, structures, and objects against the appropriate use of Federal lands and the effects on surrounding lands and communities.”

The current review by the Department of Interior of 27 national monuments does not provide any legal avenue for the president to rescind or reduce in size any national monument. No president has the legal authority to rescind or materially modify any national monument proclaimed under the Antiquities Act.

NPCA has submitted technical comments on the following national monuments:

• Bears Ears National Monument

• Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve

• Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument

• Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument

• Ironwood Forest National Monument

• Katahdin Woods & Waters National Monument

• Marianas Trench Marine National Monument

• Mojave Trails National Monument

• Northeast Canyons & Seamounts Marine National Monument

• Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument

• Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument

• Rose Atoll Marine National Monument

• Sand to Snow National Monument