Trump may reverse Chuckwalla National Monument designation
On Jan. 7, former President Joe Biden established two new national monuments in California, using his authority under the Antiquities Act. The Chuckwalla National Monument is in Riverside County just south of the Joshua Tree National Park.
The Sáttítla Highlands National Monument is in northern California near the border with Oregon.
On Friday, March 14, President Donald Trump may have rescinded these designations.
According to many media outlets, including the New York Times and Washington Post, a White House fact sheet, “President Donald J. Trump Rescinds Additional Harmful Biden Executive Actions,” released in the evening of March 14, included the following statement, “In the order the president said he was “[T]erminating proclamations declaring nearly a million acres constitute (sic)new national monuments that lock up vast amounts of land from economic development and energy production.”
However, on Saturday, March 15, this sentence was no longer in the Fact Sheet and no explanation has been given from the White House on whether these two National Monuments will be terminated.
“The Trump Administration has yet to make a decision on the Chuckwalla National Monument,” Congressman Raul Ruiz (D – 25), who formerly represented the Hill. “But one thing is certain: if the designation is rescinded, we’ll fight like hell to defend it.”
California Assemblyman Gregg Wallis, a Republican, has released this statement about the situation.
“I hope the Trump Administration doesn’t alter Chuckwalla National Monument. Chuckwalla is extremely popular across the political spectrum and was advocated for by a large, bipartisan coalition,” Wallis, R-Bermuda Dunes, stated. “Our local communities know that safeguarding our desert is good for the economy and is smart for the well-being of generations to come.”
The Chuckwalla National Monument preserves more than 624,000 acres and will be managed by the U.S. Department of Interior’s Bureau of Land Management.
Both national monuments only reserve federal lands, neither State nor private lands. The proclamation establishing the monuments will not affect valid existing rights and will allow a range of other activities, The designation does not preclude the maintenance or upgrade of utility, pipeline and telecommunications facilities, roads or highway corridors, or water infrastructure, including wildlife water developments and water district facilities. The designation does not preclude the construction of new facilities, consistent with the proper care and management of the objects of historic or scientific interest, and with relevant provisions in the proclamation, according to the White House press release.
