Posted by
Defend America on Thursday, February 18, 2010 7:29:30 PM
EXCLUSIVE: Obama Eyes Western Land for National Monuments, Angering Some
By William La Jeunesse
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FOXNews.com
More
than a dozen pristine landscapes, wildlife habitats and scenic rivers
in 11 Western states, some larger than Rhode Island and Delaware
combined, are under consideration by the Obama administration to become
America's newest National Monuments -- a decision the administration
can make unilaterally without local input or congressional approval.
According to internal Department of Interior documents leaked to a
Utah congressman and obtained exclusively by Fox News, the mostly
public lands include Arizona deserts, California mountains, Montana
prairies, New Mexico forests, Washington islands and the Great Basins
of Nevada and Colorado -- totaling more than 13 million acres.
Sources say President Obama is likely to choose two or three sites
from the list, depending on their size, conservation value and the
development threat to each one's environment.
"Many nationally significant landscapes are worthy of inclusion in
the NLCS (National Landscape Conservation System)," according to the
draft report stamped NOT FOR RELEASE. "The areas listed below may be
good candidates for National Monument designation and the Antiquities
Act."
Presidential use of the Antiquities Act is highly controversial
because the White House, with the stroke of a pen, can lock up
thousands of square miles of federal lands used for timber, ranching,
mining and energy development without local input or congressional
approval. The Act is generally interpreted to commemorate or protect a
specific historical landmark, not prohibit development or deprive local
communities of jobs and tax revenues.
"Any federal action that could lead to limited access should be done
in an open and public manner using extraordinary caution," said Rep.
Dean Heller, R-Nev., upon seeing the leaked report. "The fact that this
administration is already circulating internal memos to bypass Congress
and the public process is troubling."
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/02/18/obama-eyeing-millions-wild-acres-national-monuments/