Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan introduced the Improved National Monument Designation Process Act Feb. 10, 2015, legislation that would prohibit any White House from unilaterally designating national monuments on federal lands and waters under a century-old measure called the Antiquities Act without Congressional approval and the approval of affected state’s legislatures.
“It is clear that this White House is more concerned with securing its environmental legacy than protecting the economic well-being of Alaskans,” said Murkowski, Chairman of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee and Co-Chair of the Senate Oceans Caucus. “My legislation is designed to make sure economic activity like fishing and responsible resource development is not put at risk – and family incomes damaged – by a stroke of the President’s pen.”
“How we develop and harvest America’s land and water is an area where Congress and the people, not the executive branch – has preeminent authority,” said Sullivan. “This legislation will put a check on the Obama administration’s war on Alaska families and the middle class. Though it may be an inconvenient truth to this President, the citizens on the ground who live day in and day out with his fiats deserve to be heard.”
The bill would require for any national monument proposed on public land or within the exclusive economic zone that the following requirements be met:
- Specific authorization by an Act of Congress;
- Approval by the state legislature, and for marine monuments, approval by each state legislature within 100 miles of the proposed monument; and
- Application of the National Environmental Policy Act.
Via murkowski.senate.gov
image credit Blaine Harrington photoshelter.com
Image: New Eddystone Rock, Misty Fjords National Monument, near Ketchikan, southeast Alaska, USA
