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DECEMBER 22, 2000

The Department of Interior on Thursday said it will recommend President Bill Clinton designate two sites in Montana as national monuments, but incoming Governor Judy Martz and outgoing Governor Marc Racicot expressed disapproval.

The two sites are Missouri Breaks and Pompeys Pillar. Both have ties to the Lewis and Clark expedition: William Clark named the latter after Sacajawea's son, whose nickname was "Pomp." Both sites also show evidence of ceremonial use.

Also recommended for national monument status on Thursday are Carrizo Plain in California, home to several sacred sites, the Virgin Island Corral Reef, and an expansion of the Buck Island Reef National Monument in the Virgin Islands.

Not recommended yesterday was the Tent Rocks State Park in New Mexico. Babbitt toured the site last Friday and said the site deserved to be a monument. Its recommendation had been urged by Cochiti Pueblo and Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-N.Mex).

Get the Story:
Babbitt to recommend two national monuments in Montana (AP 12/22)
Incoming governor highly critical of proposed monument designations (AP 12/22)