2/21/10

Dear BRC Action Alert Subscriber

If you had a chance to stop the Clinton Administration from designating all those Monuments, would you take it?

The Obama Administration is well on its way to match former President Clinton's Monument designation spree. Thanks to a whistle-blower in the Department of the Interior, a secret Obama administration plan to grab 13 million acres of public and private lands across 11 western states has been exposed. 

The secret document indicates the DOI is operating on the assumption that the Monuments will be designated, even so far as to budgeting funds for purchasing private land inholdings. That's why we need your help today.

BRC is requesting that Congress pass legislation that provides some sort of mechanism or process for Congressional review of Antiquities Act proclamations, and also for a method for State and local input before any designation takes place.

In the meantime, we need our members to immediately contact their congressional representatives and ask them to go on record as opposing any unilateral action by the administration.

Ric has put together another one of our INSANELY EASY 3 - Step Action Items, so it won't take more than 3 or 4 minutes out of your day.

Thank you in advance for your action.

Brian Hawthorne                                Ric Foster
Public Lands Policy Director              Public Lands Department Manager
208-237-1008 ext 102                        208-237-1008 ext 107

PS:  Check out "MORE INFO FROM THE WEB" at the bottom of the alert.

BRC NATIONWIDE ACTION ALERT
SECRET DOCUMENT REVEALS OBAMA CONSIDERING 13 MILLION ACRE LAND GRAB
ANTIQUITIES ACT ABUSES MUST END - ACTION ITEM BELOW

SITUATION:
A recently obtained internal document from the Department of the Interior (DOI) shows the Obama Administration is considering using the Antiquities Act to grab 13 million acres of public and private lands in 11 western states as National Monuments without any public review or opportunity to comment.   Obama is considering Monuments in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.
( http://www.sharetrails.org/uploads/National_Monuments.pdf )

Many of these lands are home to world class motorized and non-motorized recreation destinations. The Antiquities Act allows the President to establish National Monuments that replace multiple use management with a preservationist directive.

WHAT YOU NEED TO DO:

BRC'S THREE-STEP ACTION ITEM
STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO CONTACT YOUR LAWMAKERS:

NOTE: Please be polite and, if possible, make your comments as personal as you can.

STEP 1:  Click on the following link to go to BRC's Rapid Response Center.
                http://www.sharetrails.org/rapid_response/  and in the "Contact Lawmakers"
                box type your zip code and click GO. Click on your representative's name
                and then click on the Contact tab to locate their phone number. 
                Follow the same steps for each senator.

STEP 2:  When you call, use the talking points below to help make your point.
                Be brief and polite, but make sure the staff person understands you OPPOSE 
                new National Monuments. 
               
STEP 3:  Take just a minute to forward this alert to friends and family and ask them
                 to do the same.              

TALKING POINTS
A recently obtained internal document from the Department of the Interior (DOI) shows the Obama Administration is considering using the Antiquities Act to designate National Monuments on 13 million acres of public and private lands in 11 western states.

I am asking you to go on record as opposing any unilateral monument designations by the Administration. Also, I want you to sponsor or co-sponsor legislation that requires Congressional review of Antiquities Act proclamations. This process should also allow for State and local government as well as public input before any designation takes place.

Given the economic crisis our nation is in today, this is not a good use of my taxes.

Thank you for allowing me to express my concern.

MORE INFO FROM THE WEB:

Obama Eyes Western Land for National Monuments, Angering Some:
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/02/18/obama-eyeing-millions-wild-acres-national-monuments/

Senior Republicans allege secret Interior plot to create national monuments:
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/677-e2-wire/82009-senior-republicans-allege-secret-interior-plot-to-create-national-monuments

Two more monuments in Utah? San Rafael Swell and Cedar Mesa?:
http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_14426730

Rep. Dean Heller: Feds looking at designating 2 Nevada national monuments:
http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2010/feb/16/heller-feds-looking-designating-two-nevada-nationa/

Chorus of protest
Critics of secret BLM meetings share diverse backgrounds, conflicting interests
http://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/wyoming/article_8eccd140-1ce5-11df-8058-001cc4c03286.html

Special status possible for Colorado sites
Areas may be deemed worthy of wilderness, other designation
http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/articles/special_status_possible_for_co/

The BlueRibbon Coalition is a national (non-profit) trail-saving group that represents over 600,000 recreationists nationwide The Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) season is beginning. Federal employees, please mark BlueRibbon Coalition and Check #11402 on your CFC pledge form to support our efforts to protect your access. Join us at 1-800-258-3742 http://www.sharetrails.org
_______________________________________________________

As a non-profit, grassroots organization funded primarily by membership dues and donations, we greatly appreciate your support. Visit http://www.sharetrails.org/make-a-difference-now to help fund our efforts to protect your trails!