Establishment of the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument

President Obama established the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument under the Antiquities Act, withdrawing approximately 346,177 acres of federal land from development, mining, and mineral leasing. The proclamation directs the Secretary of Agriculture to manage the monument through the Forest Service and prepare a management plan within 3 years, with consultation from the Secretary of the Interior and maximum public involvement.

Federal Register Open PDF 79 FR 62303

Impact dates

Oct 9, 2017
Management plan due

Key directives

Establish San Gabriel Mountains National Monument on approximately 346,177 acres
Withdraw federal lands from all forms of entry, location, selection, sale, leasing, or other disposition under public land laws, mining laws, and mineral/geothermal leasing laws
Secretary of Agriculture to manage monument through Forest Service
Secretary of Agriculture to prepare management plan within 3 years in consultation with Secretary of the Interior
Management plan must provide for maximum public involvement including tribal, state, local government, and community organizations
Management plan must protect and preserve Indian sacred sites and tribal access for traditional cultural, spiritual, and gathering purposes
Secretary to prepare transportation plan with road closures and travel restrictions
Limit motor vehicle use to designated roads, trails, and existing off-highway vehicular use areas
Timber harvest and prescribed fire only for wildfire, insect, or disease risks endangering protected objects or public safety

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

Monument establishment takes effect
Federal lands withdrawn from entry, location, sale, leasing, mining, and mineral/geothermal disposition

Near term (90d)

Initial management framework implementation by Forest Service

Long term

Management plan due within 3 years
Transportation plan development
Ongoing management rules and regulations promulgation

Risks & tensions

Potential conflict between conservation goals and existing grazing, mining, and utility interests
Tension between access restrictions and recreational demands of 15 million nearby residents
Coordination challenges between Agriculture and Interior Secretaries with final authority resting with Agriculture
Vague 'maximum public involvement' standard for plan development may lead to disputes over adequacy
Military aviation and airspace use explicitly preserved, creating potential future conflicts with monument protection