Norton Letter May Open Door to Downsizing of Public Lands

Interior Secretary Gale A. Norton asked several state officials Wednesday to suggest boundary and other changes to national monuments, a possible first step toward scaling back the more than 3 million acres that then-President Clinton put under protection during his last two years in office.

Environmentalists voiced worry that the move also could open the door to logging, mining, grazing and other uses on these desert, mountain and coastal areas, set aside by Clinton to protect their natural beauty.

In letters to leaders in nine states and the U.S. Virgin Islands containing 19 newly designated or expanded monuments, Norton invited opinions on how the lands should be used and whether they hold any tourism or recreation potential.

In a statement released with the letter, Norton said the Clinton administration failed to work with “local property owners, elected officials and other people whose lives were affected by the last-minute designations.”

In her letter, Norton said she “would like to know your views on vehicle use, access to private inholdings, rights-of-way, grazing, and water rights, as well as the wide spectrum of other traditional multiple uses that might be appropriately applied to these lands.”

Alyssondra Campaigne, legislative director for the Natural Resources Defense Council, said Norton’s letter seems to emphasize logging, mining and other commercial uses.