Chairman Bishop Releases Antiquities Act Reform Legislation

Chairman Bishop Releases Antiquities Act Reform Legislation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 9, 2017 CONTACT: Parish Braden, Molly Block, Katie Schoettler (202) 226-9019

Washington, D.C. – The Full Committee will hold a markup on Wednesday, October 11, 2017 at 4:00 PM until 6:00 PM in 1334 Longworth House Office Building, to consider H.R. 3990 (Rep. Rob Bishop of UT), the “National Monument Creation and Protection Act,” and H. Res. 555 (Rep. Raul Grijalva of AZ). Chairman Bishop released the following statement: “The 1906 Antiquities Act was originally intended as an executive tool to protect historical and archeological artifacts and structures under threat. Regrettably, this worthy goal has been manipulated for ulterior political purposes. Today the Act is too often used as an excuse for presidents to unilaterally lock up vast tracts of public land without any mechanism for people to provide input or voice concerns. This is wrong.   “This legislation provides for accountability in the Act’s uses. It modernizes the law to restore its intent, allowing for the protection of actual antiquities without disenfranchisement of local voices and perspectives. It standardizes and limits the president’s power to reshape monuments. “If my colleagues are serious about their calls for accountability under this Act – no matter which party controls the White House – they will support this bill.” H.R. 3990 (Rep. Rob Bishop of UT), To amend title 54, United States Code, to reform the Antiquities Act of 1906, and for other purposes. “National Monument Creation and Protection Act.” H. Res. 555 (Rep. Raul Grijalva), Of inquiry requesting the President and directing the Secretary of the Interior to transmit, respectively, certain documents and other information to the House of Representatives relating to the executive order on the review of designations under the Antiquities Act.        WHAT: Full Committee Markup on H.R. 3990 and H. Res. 555 WHEN: Wednesday, October 11 4:00 PM-6:00PM WHERE: 1334 Longworth House Office Building Visit the Committee Calendar for additional information once it is made available. The meeting is open to the public and a video feed will stream live at House Committee on Natural Resources.

A quick read of this legislation tells me it would:

Change the definition of objects

Limit the President's authority to 640 acres

Provides for excptions for designations of less than 5,000 acres, from 5,000 to 10,000 acres, and for those up to 85,000 acres. Each would have certain public notice and NEPA requirements and with the largest designation requiring the approval of the county and the Governor.