Rep. Tim Griffin (R-Ark.) said on Wednesday that the Ensuring Public Involvement in the Creation of National Monuments Act would ensure local input and more oversight in national monument declarations.
The measure would amend the Antiquities Act of 1906 to address the president’s unilateral ability to declare national monument sites. Under the measure, the president would be required to conduct a review under the National Environmental Policy Act when designating a new monument larger than 5,000 acres.
It also would limit new designations to one per state for each four-year term that a president is in office and would require written approval from owners of private property impacted by a designation.
“Preserving America’s public lands and national heritage for future generations’ enjoyment is important, and this bill ensures it will be accomplished in partnership with local residents and officials, landowners and recreationists,” Griffin said. “Their input is critical in the process of designating new national monuments, which should never be used to cut off access as part of a radical environmental agenda not supported by most Americans.”
The House of Representatives approved the Ensuring Public Involvement in the Creation of National Monuments Act on Wednesday. The bill was introduced in April 2013 by Rep. Rob Bishop (R-Utah).