Sierra Club opposes anti-monument executive order

The Toiyabe Chapter of the Sierra Club strongly disagrees with the President's executive order of today (April 26, 2017) that brings a review of the national monuments created under the Antiquities Act since the 1990s.  The Toiyabe Chapter supports the designations of national monuments under the Antiquities Act - a valuable tool used by Presidents since Teddy Roosevelt that protected iconic landscapes and critical wildlife habitats across the nation. National Parks such as Death Valley, Grand Canyon, and even Great Basin began as National Monuments created under the Antiquities Act. (The Executive Order only applies to National Monuments created by the President under the Antiquities Act.) Recently designated monuments in Nevada such as Gold Butte created by President Obama in 2016 enjoy wide public support. To the extent that the executive order clears the way for potential downsizing or elimination of these national monuments, we will join with national Sierra Club to keep this from happening. Please let the administration know that you oppose the executive order. The Club's press release on National Monuments is here.  In the Nevada Legislature, Assembly Joint Resolution 13 sponsored by Assemblywoman Heidi Swank, has been approved; it expresses the support of the NV legislature for the use of the Antiquities Act to protect Gold Butte and Basin and Range as National Monuments. You can register your support for AJR 13 at the Nevada Legislature's website here.