ExecutiveOrdersEO
Proc 9559ProclamationObama · D Quiet signal

Proclamation 9559

Establishment of the Gold Butte National Monument

President Obama established the Gold Butte National Monument in southeast Nevada under the Antiquities Act, withdrawing approximately 296,937 federal acres from development, mining, and new grazing permits. The proclamation transfers Bureau of Reclamation lands to Bureau of Land Management jurisdiction, mandates a management plan with public involvement, and establishes an advisory committee while preserving tribal access rights and existing infrastructure.

Federal Register Open PDF 82 FR 1149

Impact dates

  1. Establishment of advisory committee under FACA

  2. Preparation and maintenance of management plan

  3. Transfer of BOR lands to BLM administrative jurisdiction

Key directives

  • Establish Gold Butte National Monument on approximately 296,937 acres
  • Withdraw all federal lands from entry, location, selection, sale, mining, and mineral/geothermal leasing
  • Transfer administrative jurisdiction of BOR lands to BLM
  • Manage BLM lands as unit of National Landscape Conservation System
  • Prepare and maintain management plan with maximum public involvement
  • Establish advisory committee under Federal Advisory Committee Act
  • Restrict motorized vehicle use to roads designated open as of December 28, 2016
  • Prohibit new grazing permits or leases
  • Protect Indian sacred sites and ensure tribal access for traditional uses
  • No new rights-of-way except for care and management of protected objects

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

  • Monument establishment takes effect upon proclamation
  • Federal lands withdrawn from entry, location, sale, mining, and mineral/geothermal leasing
  • Existing motorized vehicle use restricted to currently designated roads
  • Transfer of BOR lands to BLM jurisdiction initiated

Near term (90d)

  • Secretary to establish Federal Advisory Committee Act advisory committee
  • Management plan development to begin with public involvement

Long term

  • Management plan implementation for monument protection
  • Ongoing tribal consultation for sacred sites and traditional cultural properties protection

Risks & tensions

  • No explicit calendar deadlines or day-count obligations in proclamation text
  • Tension between conservation restrictions and existing water/mineral rights holders
  • Potential conflict with Nevada state jurisdiction over fish and wildlife management
  • Military overflight provisions may create implementation complexity with environmental protections
  • Size of monument (296,937 acres) has been politically contested in subsequent years
Proclamation 9559: Establishment of the Gold Butte National Monument · Executive Orders