Published in the San Juan Record, March 2014:
In his State of the Union Address, President Obama said, “I will use my authority to protect more of our pristine federal lands for future generations.” This statement was a clear reference to the his power to create national monuments, granted by Congress as part of the Antiquities Act in 1906.
The President’s invocation of this authority was also likely the motivation for Representative Jason Chaffetz to pen an editorial appearing recently in the San Juan Record, entitled “Antiquities Act reform is long overdue.”
Our Representative argued the Act was intended to preserve archeological sites, “mainly Indian ruins and artifacts,” not large tracts of public land, such as President Lyndon Johnsons’ designation of Capitol Reef National Monument or President Herbert Hoover’s creation of Arches National Monument (now a National Park).
While I doubt many Americans would see these presidential acts as an “over reach,” it is true that many monument designations have been less about “antiquities” and more about protecting places of beauty and inspiration for the benefit of all Americans.
Regardless, even if you grant Representative Chaffetz his claim that the Act was only intended to protect “Indian ruins and artifacts,” the indisputable fact remains: There still are places in America – landscapes of immeasurable value, filled with true antiquities – that genuinely need further protections.
In our own back yard, Friends of Cedar Mesa has proposed the creation of an enhanced protection area on public lands, including wilderness areas, to preserve some of the most important “Indian ruins and artifacts” in the United States. First made prominent in the 1890s by the Wetherill expeditions, Cedar Mesa is home to one of the highest concentrations of archaeological sites in the nation. Considered sacred ground by several regional native American tribes, an estimated 12,000 archaeological sites have been recorded here, with many more hidden on the mesa tops where they are less visible, but more vulnerable. With an estimated density of more than 25 archeology sites per square mile, many recognize the Cedar Mesa region as essentially one continuous pre-historic site.
This is a place of amazing natural beauty, with remote colorful canyons, immense vistas, and still the potential for silence and solitude – all of this with another rock art panel or ruin around virtually every bend.
Yet despite the best efforts of local land managers, these irreplaceable “antiquities” have not received the protection needed to preserve them for our children and grandchildren. A long history of looting continues even today to acquire artifacts for private collections and often for sale to the highest bidder. And any long-time explorer of Cedar Mesa will attest to the dramatic disappearance of artifacts and damage to ruins witnessed over the last 50 years. Now, with increased visitation and little oversight, history disappears on a daily basis, one colorful potshard, one graffiti scrawl, one dislodged building stone at a time.
One would like to believe a unilateral act of the president would not be needed to protect such a place. Thoughtfully crafted legislation could certainly accomplish preservation, while also bringing a host of other economic benefits to San Juan County.
By trading out state lands in sensitive areas, we could streamline energy development in other parts of the County, creating jobs and revenue. Some public lands, perhaps around Blanding, Monticello, and the Cal Black Airport, could potentially be privatized, creating a larger tax base and possibilities for future development. And resolving RS 2477 litigation could provide certainty regarding roads and travel plans, giving the County permanent control over many roads on federal lands. All this could be accomplished while protecting beautiful landscapes that provide hunting opportunities, recreation, and solitude to county residents and tourists alike.
To this end, I applaud Representatives Bishop and Chaffetz for initiating a locally driven process to discuss protecting some key public lands while resolving long-running disputes that hinder economic development.
We also thank the San Juan County Commissioners for listening to residents who wanted the County to participate in the Bishop/Chaffetz process.
If executed in good faith, with all sides agreeing to “give something to get something,” this process holds promise to protect important places in a far less controversial fashion than a national monument designation, using the Antiquities Act.
However, crafting legislation and getting it passed in Congress would be a “monumental task” of its own, especially given the 112th Congress was the first since World War II that failed to protect a single new acre of public land as a National Park, Monument or Wilderness area.
The Bishop/Chaffetz initiative needs to progress quickly. Americans can’t stand by as pieces of history are being lost while Congress fails to act. Protecting a landscape and prehistoric site like Cedar Mesa is exactly what the Antiquities Act was created to accomplish. Residents of San Juan County should not be surprised if the President steps in to designate a monument in the region if Congress can’t get the job done.