Rep. Shelly Berkley (D-Nev.)
has formally requested President Barack Obama to declare the Gold Butte complex
a National Monument.
Berkley was one of more than a
dozen members of the House Sustainable Energy and Environmental Coalition
(SEEC) that sent a letter to the White House urging the President to use his
authority under the National Antiquities Act to designate more public lands as
national monuments. The July 25 letter specifically included the Gold Butte
Complex as well as the Pine Forest Range, both in Nevada.
The letter reviewed the fact
that Department of Interior Secretary Ken Salazar issued a report last November
which had highlighted eighteen “legislative opportunities” to designate public
lands as wilderness or National Conservation Areas. Claiming full public
support for these conservation measures, the letter then blamed a Republican
majority in the House for taking no action on the “opportunities”.
“Thank you for challenging
Congress to act on these noncontroversial proposals right away,” the letter
stated. “Unfortunately, the Republican majority in the House has failed to pass
a single one of these measures, even those introduced by Republicans, and
instead has focused on rolling back environmental protections for our nation’s
land, water, and wildlife.”
The letter concluded: “In light
of the House’s failure to report legislation protecting federal public lands,
we encourage you to use the Antiquities Act and protect our country’s most
cherished public lands for future generations.”
To read the full article written in the Moapa Valley
Progress by Vernon Robison click the following link: http://mvprogress.com/2012/08/01/rep-berkley-advocates-for-national-monument-at-gold-butte/
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