Huffman to White House: Include Mendocino's Point Arena-Stornetta Public Lands in the National Monument

February 26, 2013

WASHINGTON--- Members of Congress from California’s North Coast have sent a joint letter to President Obama urging him to use his executive authority under the Antiquities Act of 1906 to include the Point Arena-Stornetta Public Lands on the Mendocino coast in the California Coastal National Monument.  The letter was spearheaded by Congressman Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael), and signed by Congressman Mike Thompson (D-St. Helena) and U. S. Senators Dianne Feinstein (D- CA) and Barbara Boxer (D-CA).

“Beyond the natural benefits the Point Arena-Stornetta Public Lands provide to our families and our communities, the region has a significant economic impact as well,” the Members of Congress wrote. “The preservation of these lands will ensure that local residents and visitors from around the world can enjoy California’s spectacular beauty – and one of the most beautiful coastal areas in the country – for generations to come.”

The text of the letter follows:

President Barack Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. President,

We write to respectfully request your designation of the Point Arena-Stornetta Public Lands as a part of the California Coastal National Monument using your authority under the Antiquities Act.

As you know, the California Coastal National Monument, designated by President Clinton in 2000, protects small islands, exposed reefs, and pinnacles off the 1,100 miles of California coastline as well as the critical habitat it provides for an abundance of marine life. The Point Arena-Stornetta Public Lands would expand upon this designation by being the first land-based connection to the California Coastal National Monument. Beyond the natural benefits the Point Arena-Stornetta Public Lands provide to our families and our communities, the region has a significant economic impact as well. Tourists drawn to Mendocino County to visit Stornetta and Mendocino’s south coast support nearly 5,000 jobs and generate more than $110 million in economic activity annually.

Importantly, the inclusion of the Point Arena-Stornetta Public Lands into the Monument is strongly supported by the local stakeholders, including the cities of Point Arena and Fort Bragg, the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors, the Mendocino County Chambers of Commerce, the Manchester-Point Arena Band of Pomos, local tourism boards, and numerous conservation organizations.

For all of these reasons, we respectfully encourage you to use your authority under the Antiquities Act of 1906 to include these unique public lands in the California Coastal National Monument. The preservation of these lands will ensure that local residents and visitors from around the world can enjoy California’s spectacular beauty – and one of the most beautiful coastal areas in the country – for generations to come.

Thank you for your consideration of our request. We look forward to working with you on this matter, and appreciate your leadership.

Sincerely,

JARED HUFFMAN, MEMBER OF CONGRESS
MIKE THOMPSON, MEMBER OF CONGRESS
DIANNE FEINSTEIN, U.S. SENATOR
BARBARA BOXER, U.S. SENATOR

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