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September 1996 |
The following article is an excerpt taken from the September 1996 issue of the Colorado Plateau Advocate express,
a publication of the GRAND CANYON TRUST.
Comments by Geoff Barnard, President of the Grand Canyon Trust...
On September 18, 1996, President Clinton journeyed to the rim of the Grand Canyon to create the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. In signing the presidential proclamation, Clinton's pen saved 1.7 million acres of some of the most: spectacular and sublime wildlands remaining in the lower forty-eight status -- the red rock country of southern Utah.
The land set aside as the country's newest national monument runs from the Arizona-Utah state line in the south, northward and eastward for 95 miles to join with Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Capitol Reef National Park, and Bryce Canyon National Park.
This high desert country encompasses the Kaiparowits Plateau, the canyons of the Escalante River, and the Grand Staircase -- the Pink Cliffs, Grey Cliffs, White Cliffs, Vermilion Cliffs, and Chocolate Cliffs -- together some 2,650 square miles of fantastic rock formations, desert creeks, springs, lava fields, slot canyons, natural bridges, arches, ancient Anasazi sites, and historical sites of early pioneers.
Clinton's action builds on a rich tradition of other U.S. presidents who set aside land for national monuments. In 1908, President Theodore Roosevelt set aside land in Arizona to be known as Grand Canyon National Monument. President Hoover established Arches National Monument in 1929; and President Franklin Roosevelt established Capitol Reef National Monument in 1938.
In particular, this land within the new national monument was threatened by coal mining -- a 25,000 acre mining lease on the Kaiparowits Plateau. Andalex Mining Company had proposed to haul coal by truck for 22 miles over land that is now in the national monument and then 200 miles on public highways through small Utah communities -- one coal truck every five minutes, all day long.
Local opposition to the truck impact of the mine has been building. The Trust has strongly opposed the mine, especially the impact of the coal trucks, questioned its economics and supported the enormous conservation value of the land.
As Clinton noted, "Mining jobs are good jobs, and mining is important to our national economy and to our national security. But, we can't have mines everywhere, and we shouldn't have mines that threaten our national treasures. "
Other existing uses of these public lands are not affected by the proclamation, including hunting, fishing, hiking, camping, and livestock grazing.
The question is now how these unique lands can be managed in a way that respects legitimate local needs and also respects the larger society and the environment. Clinton set up a three year planning process to establish a management plan for the new national monument.
Joining President Clinton at the Grand Canyon announcement was Vice President Al Gore. The Grand Canyon Trust played a major role in the activities surrounding the visit. The Trust was asked by the White House to organize a program prior to Clinton's address. As the Trust's president, I was honored to be the master of ceremonies. Trustees Bill Smart and Vernon Masayesva were speakers. Trustee Norma Matheson introduced Vice president Gore. Various other guests, including actor Robert Redford and authors Terry Tempest Williams and Charles Wilkinson spoke eloquently about Clinton's action.
This moment marks both a powerful conclusion to a long-standing conflict, and the opportunity for a new beginning. The strength of character, integrity, good science, and understanding that we bring to the process for determining the management of the Grand Staircase- Escalante National Monument will test, in the words of Wallace Stegner, whether we truly can "create a society to match the scenery" of this beautiful land. I am confident that we can.
--Geoff Barnard, President
Comments by President Clinton...
"... As all of you know, today we are keeping faith with the future. I'm about to sign a proclamation that will establish the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.
Since [the Antiquities Act of 1906], several presidents of both parties, Republicans and Democrats, have worked to preserve places that we now take for granted as part of out own unchanging heritage: Bryce Canyon, Zion, Glacier Bay, Olympic, Grand Teton. Today, we add a new name to that list: the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. Seventy miles to the north of here in Utah lies some of the most remarkable land in the world. We will set aside 1.7 million acres of it.
On this site, on this remarkable site, God's handiwork is everywhere in the natural beauty of the Escalante Canyons and in the Kaiparowits Plateau, in the rock formations that show layer by layer billions of years of geology, in the fossil record of dinosaurs and other prehistoric life, in the remains of ancient American civilizations like the Anasazi Indians.
[This] uniquely American landscape is now one of the most isolated places in the lower 48 states. In protecting it, we live up to our obligation to preserve our natural heritage. We are saying very simply, our parents and grandparents saved the Grand Canyon on for us; today, we will save the Grand Escalante Canyons and the Kaiparowits Plateau of Utah for our children.
[N]inety three years ago a great Republican present, Theodore Roosevelt, said we should make the Grand Canyon a national monument. In 1903 Teddy Roosevelt came to this place and said a few words from the rim of the Canyon I'd like to share with you as we close today: 'Leave the Grand Canyon as it is. You cannot improve upon in. What you can do is keep it for your children, your children's children, all who come after you. We have gotten past the stage when we are pardoned if we treat any part of our country as something to be skinned for. The use of the present generation, whether it is the forest, the water, the scenery -- whatever it is, handle it so that your children's children will get the benefit of it.'
It was President Roosevelt's wisdom and vision that launched the Progressive Era and prepared our nation for the 20th century. Today we must do the same for the 21st century. I have talked a lot about building a bridge of possibility to that 21st century, by meeting our challenges and protecting our values. Today the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument becomes a great pillar in our bridge to tomorrow.
Thank you and God bless you all."
-- President Bill Clinton
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