Make your voice heard by May 26th and Save Bears Ears National Monument!
The U.S. Department of the Interior is conducting a review of certain National Monuments designated or expanded since 1996 under the Antiquities Act of 1906 in order to implement Executive Order 13792 of April 26, 2017. To ensure consideration, written comments relating to the Bears Ears National Monument must be submitted before May 26, 2017. Written comments relating to all other National Monuments must be submitted before July 10, 2017. Rise Stronger will put out another Call to Action before the July deadline covering other monuments.
How to Submit a Comment
- Go to https://www.regulations.gov/docketBrowser?rpp=50&so=DESC&sb=postedDate&po=0&dct=PS&D=DOI-2017-0002
- Click "Comment now"
- Personalize or edit the statement below and copy and paste it into the box
- Submit!
What to Say
Dear Secretary Zinke,
[insert personal narrative about a national park, or Bears Ears if applicable]
Our national monuments and public lands and waters help define who we are as a nation by telling the story of our historical, cultural, and natural heritage. Attempts to rollback protections for national monuments would be both illegal and terribly misguided and I strongly urge you to oppose any efforts to eliminate or shrink our national monuments.
Bears Ears National Monument and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in Utah are truly some of the treasures of our state. Bears Ears National Monument in Utah is a textbook example of the priceless historic, cultural and natural wonders that are protected as National Monuments. Protecting 100,000 archaeological and cultural sites the monument honors the voices of five tribes who joined together to seek protection of their shared ancestral lands and traditions, Bears Ears National Monument should remain protected permanently.
The monument boundaries are based on the extensive cultural mapping and traditional knowledge of the Native American tribes to best protect the thousands of archaeological, cultural and sacred sites in the area as well as the incredible wildlife habitat, serenity and scenic wonders that make up this incredibly landscape. Not only is Bears Ears National Monument incredibly worthy of protection, it is an incredibly vital part of the outdoor recreation economy in the state of Utah - protecting some of the best climbing locations in the entire state and country.
Public input and discussions of protections for Bears Ears National Monument have already been robust. Secretary Jewell held a public meeting in Bluff, Utah, that was attended by over 1,400 members of the public and the majority were in support of this designation. According to recent polling, 80% of western voters support keeping existing national monument protections in place.
Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument is a geological, paleontological and scenic treasure. The slot canyons, arches and stunning features of the landscape as well as the peace and wonder it inspires - and the research and learning the paleontological resources have provided - demonstrate without a doubt that this monument is more than worthy of protection for the objects of history and scientific importance it protects. Over the last 21 years, the monument has demonstrated itself as an economic success, which is why the Boulder-Escalante Chamber of Commerce unanimously supports retaining the monument and its current boundaries. I urge you to maintain protections for this landscape.
An attempt to attack one monument by rolling back protections would be an attack on them all. Sending a signal that protections for our shared history, culture, and natural treasures are not permanent would set a terrible precedent. This would discourage business investment and community growth around all national monuments while also sending the signal that our history and natural wonders are negotiable. National monuments have already been shown to be tremendous drivers of the $887 billion outdoor recreation economy and businesses in gateway communities rely on the permanency of these protections when making decisions about investing in these communities. Whether at Grand Staircase-Escalante or Bears Ears National Monuments in Utah or other monuments across the country, our national monuments should remain protected for future generations to enjoy - they are a gift that belongs to all Americans.
I am firmly opposed to any effort to revoke or diminish protections for National Monuments and I urge you to support our public lands and waters and recommend that our current national monuments remain protected.
Sincerely,
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