Cook sees both sides in proposed new desert monument
By Shea Johnson
Staff Writer
Posted Mar. 30, 2015 at 12:14 PM
WASHINGTON — Noting its potential to curtail economic activities, but also realizing the need for desert protection, Rep. Paul Cook is soliciting opinions from constituents on the Sen. Dianne Feinstein-backed proposal to create the Mojave Trails National Monument.
Part of legislation introduced last month by Feinstein, D-CA, and co-sponsored by Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-CA, the new monument would designate protections to roughly 941,000 acres between Needles and Barstow.
According to a federal land survey sent by Cook’s office and received this weekend by residents in the state’s 8th Congressional District, the monument would write into law roughly 1,400 miles of off-road vehicle trails, while preventing issuances of future mining claims and construction of new wind and solar projects within the monument.
“Please keep in mind that monument designations have the potential to curtail economic activities, which can reduce the number of jobs in the region in the long term,” Cook said in the mailer. “However, as a resident of the desert and avid visitor of Joshua Tree National Park, I recognize the value of protecting certain portions of the desert when local consensus exists, as these regions can generate tourism and commerce.”
According to Campaign for the California Desert, a coalition of conservationists, community leaders and businesses who want to protect desert landscapes, there was $52.5 million in local tax receipts generated by visitors to the San Bernardino County desert in 2010.
Cook asked constituents to check-off either, “yes, this area of federal land should be designated a National Monument,” “no, this area should remain unprotected federal land,” or “unsure.”
Meanwhile, Feinstein’s wider legislation would reportedly increase protections for approximately 1.6 million acres of desert landscape, and also create a second new national monument, while expanding Joshua Tree and Death Valley National Parks and the Mojave National Preserve.
http://www.vvdailypress.com/article/20150330/NEWS/150339972
