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Thompson on President's Executive Order to Review Berryessa Snow Mountain, Other National Monuments

April 26, 2017

Washington – Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-05) issued the following statement in response to the President's executive order directing the Department of the Interior to review national monuments created since January 1, 1996 that span at least 100,000 acres. This includes Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument in Northern California.

"Berryessa Snow Mountain enjoys broad support from our community, local stakeholders, business leaders, and state and local governments," said Thompson. "For nearly a decade, I worked with more than 65 elected officials, 200 businesses, 29 landowners and farmers, and over 35 conservation and recreation groups who shared the vision of seeing Berryessa Snow Mountain become a National Monument. We held field hearings, conducted tours, and even brought the Department of the Interior to the land to see firsthand its value and importance to our region.

"The Monument is now a vital and thriving part of our region's identity. I am fully confident that any good faith review will reaffirm the merits of Berryessa Snow Mountain and confirm our community's support for its designation as a National Monument. Overturning its designation would be grossly out of step with the will of the public. Berryessa and the other monuments under review underwent a robust, exhaustive development process. I will oppose any effort to undermine the Antiquities Act, gut protections for federal lands, or overturn the designation of Berryessa Snow Mountain as a National Monument."

The Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument is comprised of over 330,000 acres in Napa, Yolo, Solano, Lake, Colusa, Glenn, and Mendocino counties. It was formally designated as a National Monument on July 10, 2015 by President Barack Obama.

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