Aspens, Bears Ears National Monument, Utah (Mike Painter)
October 12, 2023
Dear CalUWild friends & Supporters—
As we wrote last month, a lot happened quickly, with several opportunities for public comment and input on issues that we’ve followed over the years. Therefore, we saved some for this month.
We had good news late last month in the campaign to expand Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument in Northern California: Interior Secretary Deb Haaland paid a visit, joined by BLM Director Tracy Stone-Manning and Reps. John Garamendi (D-8) and Mike Thompson (D-4). We hope that this marks an important step toward a Presidential proclamation under the Antiquities Act. You can read about the visit in this article in the Sierra Sun Times: Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, BLM Director Tracy Stone-Manning Visit Proposed Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument Expansion in Northern California. And you can show your own support by signing this online petition here, if you haven’t already.
We were sorry to learn that Sen. Dianne Feinstein died two weeks ago. She was a strong supporter of public lands, especially the California desert. She was responsible for shepherding through the 1994 Desert Protection Act, which she inherited from Sen. Alan Cranston when he retired. The Los Angeles Times published a lengthy article: How Dianne Feinstein helped preserve the California desert. We look forward to Sen. Laphonza Butler, just appointed by Gov. Gavin Newsom, being just as supportive.
And this just in late last night: The California Fish & Game Commission unanimously voted yesterday to list the Inyo Rock Daisy as “threatened.” This is significant, because it grows on Conglomerate Mesa, the site of proposed gold exploration. We wrote about the environmental impact statement that is being drafted in last month’s Update. (And the deadline to submit comments is Monday, October 16, if you haven’t already.) The Los Angeles Times published this article: California grants protection for rare cliff-dwelling daisy amid outcry over mining operation.
As always, thank you for your ongoing support for our wilderness and other public lands.
Best wishes,
Mike Painter, Coordinator
IN UTAH
1. Red Rock Bill Cosponsor Update
(ACTION ITEM)
2. Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument
Draft Management Plan / EIS Released
Comments Needed
DEADLINE: November 9
(ACTION ITEM)
IN CALIFORNIA
3. Biden Administration Seeks Input on
Proposed Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary
Comments Needed
DEADLINE: October 25
(ACTION ITEM)
IN THE PRESS & ELSEWHERE
4. Links to Articles and Other Items of Interest
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
IN UTAH
1. Red Rock Bill Cosponsor Update
(ACTION ITEM)
Since our last Update, we’ve added three more cosponsors of America’s Red Rock Wilderness Act (H.R.3031) from California:
Doris Matsui (D-7) 202-225-7163
Zoe Lofgren (D-18) 202-225-3072
Sara Jacobs (D-51) 202-225-2040
If you live in one of their districts, please call their office to say thank you.
There are currently 16 House cosponsors from California.
Please take a look at the California Congressional spreadsheet, which contains a full listing of California Senate and House phone numbers for their DC offices. If your representative has not cosponsored, please call and ask them to sign on. Please also call Sen. Alex Padilla’s (D) office at 202-224-3553 and encourage him to sign on to the bill in the Senate, S.3031.
A full list of cosponsors nationwide may be found here.
2. Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument
Draft Management Plan / EIS ReleasedComments Needed
DEADLINE: November 9
(ACTION ITEM)
CalUWild got its start 26 years ago with the start of the first management plan for the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument (GSENM), designated by Pres. Bill Clinton the previous year. GSENM was the first national monument to be created on land under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management and to be managed by that agency. The plan that was put into place was good, but it was nullified when the last administration cut the monument into three separate pieces, eliminating half its area.
Pres. Biden restored GSENM in 2021, along with Bear Ears NM, and the BLM has been working to write a new management plan, as required by law.
A virtual public meeting to learn more about the plan is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 25th, from 2-4pm MT. The meeting will be held via Zoom.
Rather than recommend that BLM adopt its Preferred Alternative C, we feel it’s best to recommend the most protective approaches from both Alternatives C and D. Our friends at the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance have put together the talking points below. Feel free to look at the documents linked and add anything you would like. In particular, if you have visited GSENM, explain your connection and why you value the landscape.
GUIDE FOR GRAND STAIRCASE ESCALANTE
DRAFT MANAGEMENT PLAN COMMENTS
Strive to have your comments fit on one page, two at the most. BLM staff have a lot to read. Be clear and direct, not a lot of excess descriptions, so it’s easy to digest.
Your comments should reference monument “objects” which is what the Antiquities Act says they are designed to protect. In this case those objects include;
The natural geology;
Ecological communities and landscape;
Indigenous and pioneer cultural resources;
Paleontological resources;
Wildlife, plant and animal.
Here is a link to President Biden’s proclamation which is supposed to guide the management plan and which lists specific monument objects in great detail. Here also is President Clinton’s original proclamation which, along with Biden’s, is still in effect.
It’s helpful if you can reference specific aspects of the Draft Alternatives which you want to see incorporated or avoided. Here is a link to a summary of the draft plan’s alternatives.
So, you might want to reference the proclamation objects of geological, ecological, and cultural landscapes and suggest one or more of the following aspects of the draft plan which should be utilized to protect those objects:
a. The management zone approach in Alternative C will best protect monument objects;
b. Please manage all Lands With Wilderness Character to protect wilderness values as is best done in Alternative D;
c. The vegetation management provisions in Alternative D are the best and will protect irreplaceable monument objects like ancient pinyon-juniper forests, biological soil crusts and habitat for pollinators, migratory birds, and other sensitive species;
d. Please prohibit the use of non-native seeds in all restoration and vegetation projects;
e Please proactively manage and restrict aircraft landing and takeoff to protect soundscapes, visual resources, and habitat especially in primitive and outback zones;
f. Please manage to maintain plant communities and undisturbed soil in order to protect the land’s ability to sequester and store carbon;
g. Please remember the proclamation’s preference for science, ecology, and cultural resources where these values may conflict with other uses such as recreation.
BLM prefers that comments be submitted electronically via its online form.
Comments may also be mailed to:
ATTN: GSENM RMP Project Manager
BLM Paria River District Office
669 S Highway 89A
Kanab, UT 84741
Again, the DEADLINE is November 9.
IN CALIFORNIA
3. Biden Administration Seeks Input on
Proposed Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary
Comments Needed
DEADLINE: October 25
(ACTION ITEM)
As mentioned in the PRESS section of last month’s Update, the Biden Administration has proposed a new national marine sanctuary along the central California coast, and they are asking for public comments in support of the proposal. You can read about the proposal in much more detail on the home page for the proposal.
The Northern Chumash Tribal Council, which nominated the sanctuary, has provided the following talking points for comments in support of the designation of the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary. The sanctuary should include:
• Biggest Possible Boundary: The Initial Boundary Alternative with Gaviota Coast Extension, because it would provide the most protection to this important area.
• Sanctuary Name: The name “Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary” to recognize people that have lived on this coast since time immemorial.
• Tribal Collaborative Management: An equitable approach to include all Tribes who wish to be involved in Collaborative Management.
• Outreach & Education: Outreach, education and research programs that elevate both Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) and access for local underserved communities.
• Rodriguez Seamount: The protection of Rodriguez Seamount is essential to protect biodiversity.
• Ban Oil & Gas: A prohibition on new oil and gas development within sanctuary boundaries.
More details about these and additional talking points, as well as a map of the proposal, may be found here.
Comments may be submitted online here.
or by U.S. Mail to:
Paul Michel
Regional Policy Coordinator
99 Pacific Street, Suite 100F
Monterey, CA 93940
IN THE PRESS & ELSEWHERE
4. Links to Articles and Other Items of Interest
If a link is broken or otherwise inaccessible, please send me an email, and I’ll fix it or send you a PDF copy. Gift links are temporary links from some websites, allowing non-subscribers to view articles for free. As always, inclusion of an item in this section does not imply agreement with the viewpoint expressed.
In Utah
An article in the Salt Lake Tribune: A guide to Utah’s public lands
An article in the New York Times: A Solar Eclipse Shines Light on Traditions That Still Matter Today (gift link for non-subscribers)
In California
For some stunning abstract photos of Death Valley from the air, click here.
Earlier this year, the California Department of Fish & Wildlife published a second edition of the Atlas of the Biodiversity of California.
In Alaska
An article in the New York Times: Biden Administration to Bar Drilling on Millions of Acres in Alaska (gift link for non-subscribers)
An article in the Washington Post: This national park is so wild, it has no roads. Now some want to mine outside its gates. (gift link for non-subscribers)
In Nevada
An article in High Country News: Conservation groups sue BLM for rangeland degradation
An article in the Nevada Appeal: Winnemucca braces for massive lithium mine
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