Facebook Twitter Email
MARCH 29, 2001

Following is a sample of a letter Secretary of Interior Gale Norton sent to state, local, and tribal leaders, seeking input on changes to national monuments declared by President Clinton. The letter was released by Norton's office on Tuesday and Norton said the adminstration is "dedicated to charting a new course of responsibility."

She added: "President Bush and I want to partner with local people at the beginning -- not at the end of the process."

Dear ________:

As you know, the previous Administration created or expanded a series of National Monuments across America including in your state. As the Interior Secretary tasked with deciding what course the Department should take in determining the future of these Monuments, I am writing to ask for your active participation in charting a course of action.

I would like to hear from you about what role these Monuments should play in. Are there boundary adjustments that the Department should consider recommending? Are there existing uses inside these Monuments that we should accommodate? I would like to know your views on vehicle use, access to private inholdings, rights-of-way, grazing, and water rights, as well as the wide spectrum of other traditional multiple uses that might be appropriately applied to these lands. I also want to learn from you which areas within these Monuments are truly special and should be reserved for their unique environmental or historic characteristics. If you believe the Monument would benefit tourism or recreation, please advise us of that as well. I welcome your thoughts on these topics or other aspects of the Monument.

The Department will soon begin the process of developing land use plans for these Monuments. It is my goal, in working with interested parties such as yourself, to identify the activities that are best suited to the needs of local residents and others. The Department would like to work cooperatively with you and others in your state to form a partnership to ensure that these National Monuments are administered in a way that takes into account not only national interest, but local needs and concerns as well.

Please do not hesitate to send your suggestions or comments to Tom Fulton, Office of the Secretary, 1849 C Street, N.W., Washington, D.C., 20240. I look forward to working with you in creating sound land use management plans that incorporate local involvement in the administration of our National Monuments.

Sincerely,

The Honorable Gale Norton
Secretary of Interior

Get the Story:
Norton targets monuments for changes (3/29)