Big Bear Lake, CA February 12, 2016 – New legislation was proceeding to create Desert and Mountain protection spearheaded by Senator Feinstein and Congressman Cook in a bipartisan effort, yet the president unilaterally used Antiquities Act to create what is being called the California Desert Monument. Recently, the Big Bear Lake City Council, in a letter, urged the legislative process to continue and address the concerns of all the stakeholders in this vast and diverse area. Three regions are now designated including “Sand to Snow” which includes San Gorgonio and areas of the San Bernardino National Forest.
The reactions to this new monument designation have been as varied as the land itself. Congressman Cook (R- Apple Valley/Big Bear Valley) released this statement. “I’m not opposed to national monuments. I’m opposed to the President creating national monuments through unilateral executive action, ignoring the legislative process. I’ve always opposed any effort to create monuments through the President’s Antiquities Act, particularly because the legislative process is still moving forward.“
\
Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) today expressed strong support for President Obama’s designation of three new national monuments in the California desert. Feinstein released this statement: “The effort to preserve the California desert has been a long one, and today is a major milestone. “It hasn’t been easy, as we’ve been trying to get an additional bill enacted for more than six years. My staff and I have spent hundreds of hours working with the diverse range of stakeholders. Feinstein states the she will introduce legislation to cover provisions that monument designation doesn’t address including additional conservation areas and permanent protection for five Off-Highway Recreation Areas. “Off-roaders were a part of the coalition we put together, and unfortunately those lands could not be designated under executive action”.
