President Biden is poised to declare two expansive areas in California as national monuments, encompassing approximately 850,000 acres of tribal lands and effectively halting future development. This move will solidify his position as the president who has restricted development on more public land than any other in recent history, second only to Jimmy Carter.
One of the designated areas, the 644,000-acre Chuckwalla National Monument, is situated in Southern California near Joshua Tree National Park. While official announcements are pending, leaks suggest the President will visit the east Coachella Valley, the location of the designated tribal land, this week.
The second area, a roughly 200,000-acre plot in Northern California near the Oregon border, will be designated as the Sáttítla National Monument. This designation will also prohibit energy development in the region.
This decision has drawn both praise and criticism. Environmental groups, tribal communities, and Democratic legislators have applauded the move, while some Republican lawmakers, like Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-Calif.), argue that the Northern California designation is redundant due to existing protections. LaMalfa also expressed concerns that further restrictions could hinder wildfire management efforts by limiting road access.
Biden is utilizing the Antiquities Act of 1906, which grants presidents the authority to protect lands and waters without congressional approval. This marks a significant addition to the eight new and four expanded national monuments already established during his presidency.
This decision arrives amidst a backdrop of contrasting energy policies. President-elect Trump has pledged to prioritize domestic energy production, while the Biden administration has sought to reinforce its green energy agenda in its final weeks. Last month, the administration released a report highlighting the potential negative impacts of increased liquefied natural gas exports, a move seen by some as a preemptive measure against Trump's energy plans.
Some experts, like Steve Milloy of the Energy and Environmental Legal Institute, believe these designations could create legal obstacles for the incoming administration, potentially discouraging investment in public land projects. This follows Biden's recent ban on new offshore oil and gas drilling along most U.S. coasts, a decision criticized by industry groups.
The White House has not yet responded to requests for comment on these developments.
