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August 03, 2012 07:50 PM UTC

Obama to Declare National Monument in Colorado

  • 9 Comments
  • by: Colorado Pols

Big news today from the Durango Herald’s Joe Hanel:

President Barack Obama will use his executive authority to declare a national monument at Chimney Rock Archaeological Area, sources confirmed to the Herald.

The decision bypasses Congress, which has not been able to pass a bill for Chimney Rock despite bipartisan support…

[Rep. Scott] Tipton’s spokesman, Josh Green, said the Cortez congressman is happy to hear the monument will move forward.

“Congressman Tipton above all else believes that Chimney Rock National Monument would be better for the local community than the current designation, and that’s what he’s been pushing for all along here. It’s going to be a benefit to tourism and to preservation efforts around the Chimney Rock area,” Green said.

The declaration of Chimney Rock as a national monument is a big win for Archuleta County and southwest Colorado’s economy as a whole–if maybe not for Rep. Scott Tipton, who tried unsuccessfully to get his bill designating Chimney Rock through Congress. And it gets better–Hanel picks up an amusing predicament Tipton now finds himself in in a sidebar story:

Tipton sponsored and passed a bill through the House to establish a national monument. But he also backs a bill that would take away President Barack Obama’s authority to declare national monuments – the very authority Obama will rely on to give the designation to Chimney Rock… [Pols emphasis]

Tipton is one of 12 co-sponsors of House Resolution 817, which makes the president’s power to declare national monuments under the Antiquities Act subject to approval by Congress.

However, Tipton also joined Colorado’s two Democratic senators in writing a letter to Obama, urging him to consider using his power to declare a monument at Chimney Rock.

It’s not the first time Tipton has found himself on precisely opposite ends of the same issue, but it’s going to make it significantly harder for Tipton to realize much political benefit from President Obama’s declaration. In fact, if Sal Pace’s campaign tells the story right, Tipton will come out of this victory for Colorado’s economy looking like part of the problem.

Comments

9 thoughts on “Obama to Declare National Monument in Colorado

  1. Chimney Rock was an important site for Anasazi astronomy. I haven’t been there yet, but I would assume that being a national monument will mean improved access and facilities.

    I’m not surprised to see the GOP wanting to take away the president’s authority here.

  2. There are archeological sites all over Colorado (and the SW). Chimney rock has clusters of houses on the flat and up on the small mesa. The special thing is the archeology up by the tall rock spires. Beautiful and magical.

    I do wish it were open at dawn and sunset because the photography would be awesome. They do full moon tours during the Summer season.

    1. is the full moon rising at the Winter Solstice, a once in 18 1/2 year event. (Not sure how that “1/2” works, it’s just what I’ve read.) That was apparently the biggest astronomical event for the Chaco Anasazi. Better dress warm for that and hope there’s no blizzard.

  3. to campaign on an issue where Tipton looks so good.  

    Tipton is right on all 3 counts:

    –  reducing total authority of Prez in areas where locals ought to have major input;

    –  introducing the failed but locally popular bill; and

    –  building bipartisan consensus on that bill.

      1. It’s easy to be right when you’re all over the place.  Everyone gets something they want out of your opinions.

        Of course, if someone like that were to become President and actually have to sign things in to law, then most of their opinions would be exposed as crap, and their promises would ring hollow.

  4. was by GW Bush, the first use by TR.  The Grand Canyon and many of our most popular National Parks were created first this way (then made Parks by an Act of Congress).  Very often local sentiment and special interests fought the initial monument designation, predicting all manner of economic and social calamity.

    Many of these monuments are later proven to be so popular they are upgraded to national park status by Congress.  Some of our most cherished national parks were originally established by Presidential decree using the Antiquities Act. They include Grand Canyon, Arches, Death Valley, Olympic, Glacier Bay, Saguaro,  Lassen Volcano, Joshua Tree, Petrified Forest, Zion, Kenai Fiords, Wrangell St Elias, Gates of the Arctic, Black Canyon of the Gunnison, Bryce Canyon, Great Basin, Grand Teton, among others. In nearly all instances, there was local opposition to designation of these national monuments.  If it had been left to local approval for designation we would not now be enjoying many of these parks and monuments.

    For instance, Teddy Roosevelt used the Antiquities Act in 1908 to designate an 800,000 acre Grand Canyon National Monument over the objections of local miners, loggers, and ranchers. Arizona’s Congressional delegation responded to Roosevelt’s action by blocking any appropriations for the new monument, and later succeeded in shrinking the size of the monument.  

    http://www.headwatersmontana.c

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