Establishment of the Sand to Snow National Monument

President Obama established the Sand to Snow National Monument in southern California under the Antiquities Act, withdrawing approximately 154,000 federal acres from development, mining, and mineral leasing. The monument will be jointly managed by the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management, with a required management plan developed with tribal, state, and local consultation.

Federal Register Open PDF 81 FR 8379

Key directives

Secretaries of Agriculture and Interior shall manage monument through USFS and BLM respectively
Secretaries shall jointly prepare a management plan
Secretaries shall promulgate regulations for monument management
USFS to manage NFS lands as part of San Bernardino National Forest
BLM to manage lands as unit of National Landscape Conservation System
Public involvement required including tribal, State, and local government consultation
Maximize shared resources, operational efficiency, and cooperation
Protect Indian sacred sites and provide tribal access for traditional uses
Motorized vehicles restricted to existing roads; non-motorized mechanized vehicles to designated roads/trails only

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

154,000 acres withdrawn from entry, sale, mining, and mineral/geothermal leasing
Motorized vehicle use restricted to existing roads
Existing water and utility facilities grandfathered

Near term (90d)

Joint management plan preparation to begin
Regulations to be promulgated for monument management

Long term

Permanent land protection and management under USFS/BLM
Ongoing tribal consultation for sacred sites protection

Risks & tensions

Potential conflict with mining and energy development interests due to withdrawal of 154,000 acres
Tribal rights provisions are protective but vague on enforcement mechanisms
Joint USFS-BLM management may create jurisdictional complexity
'Valid existing rights' clause preserves some development potential
Military overflight exemption may create tension with wilderness preservation goals