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JANUARY 9, 2000

Bruce Babbitt on Monday announced he is recommending two sites be declared national monuments, including one considered sacred by Cochiti Pueblo of New Mexico.

The outgoing Secretary of Interior has recommended the Sonoron Desert in Arizona and the Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks in New Mexico be declared national monuments by President Bill Clinton. The Antiquities Act of 1906 allows the President broad powers to declare national monuments on federal land.

So far, Clinton has accepted 13 of Babbitt's recommendations to declare or expand national monuments, mostly in the West. In several cases, his decisions have angered many Republican lawmakers, some of whom have asked President-elect George W. Bush to consider rescinding them.

Gale Norton, Babbitt's named successor at the Interior, has also voiced concerns about some of the decisions. She was asked about the issue when her nomination was announced last month.

"The West was concerned about those decisions, in large part, because there was no consultation with the people whose lives were most affected by land withdrawals by the Clinton administration," said said.

"I will be discussing those issues with the Senate as part of my confirmation hearings," she added. "At this time, I have no position on what the incoming administration will be doing as to those designations.

With respect to the Tent Rocks, a state park co-managed by the Bureau of Land Management and Cochiti Pueblo, one Republican lawmaker was concerned. But after meeting with Babbitt to discuss the issue, Senator Pete Domenici (R-N.Mex) now says he has no objections.

"I do not favor using the Antiquities Act when matters can be resolved legislatively," said Domenici. "But on the Tent Rocks proposal, I am now convinced that all the necessary notifications, contacts and consents have taken place on this proposal,"

Another New Mexico Senator, Democrat Jeff Bingaman, had urged Babbitt to consider recommending the site. Babbitt visited it last month and praised the joint operation between the government and the Pueblo. He also visited the Sonoran Desert twice in the fall of 2000, meeting with local and tribal leaders.

"Both of these sites cover breathtaking landscapes," said Babbitt. "By protecting these areas now, future generations will be able to marvel at these spectacular areas just as we do."

More on the Monument Proposals:
Sonoran Desert, Tent Rocks Monument Proposals (Enviro 1/9)

Relevant Links:
Tent Rocks, Pictures - www.swparks.com/us/travel/newmexico/pictent1.html

Related Stories:
Babbitt to visit Tent Rocks (Enviro 12/13)
Pueblo supports site as monument (Enviro 12/7)
Sacred site may become monument (Enviro 06/02)
Pueblo, US manage land (Enviro 05/31)