DISCLAIMER:  The press release titled, "Thirty Thousand Americans Call for
the Protection of New National Monuments" is to be
used only for charitable and public education purposes as it was created
using 501(c)(3) funds.  Please feel free to send that release to other
reporters, colleagues and interested parties, but further distribution of
that release must also be for charitable purposes, not for legislative
lobbying.  Communications with Congress that are aimed at influencing an
administrative action rather than legislation are not lobbying.

For Immediate Release: March 27, 2002

                           Friends of the Earth
                       National Wildlife Federation
          Sierra Club
                          The Wilderness Society
                    U.S. Public Interest Research Group

THIRTY THOUSAND AMERICANS CALL FOR THE PROTECTION OF NEW NATIONAL MONUMENTS

    Conservation groups warn Secretary Norton about the
                  threats posed by poor management

Washington, D.C.: Conservation groups sent a letter to Secretary of
Interior Gale Norton today urging her to protect our nation's newest
National Monuments from risky development schemes that threaten to open
them up to oil and gas drilling, mining, and off-road vehicles.  The
groups, which include the Sierra Club, The Wilderness Society, Friends of
the Earth, U.S. Public Interest Research Group, and the National Wildlife
Federation, also delivered more than 30,000 comments from concerned
citizens across the country expressing support for protecting National
Monuments.

"Americans appreciate the value of National Monuments as special places for
our families and future generations to enjoy, not to strip mine or punch
holes in at the behest of oil companies, political supporters and other
narrow interests," said Sierra Club Executive Director Carl Pope.

Exactly a year ago, Interior Secretary Gale Norton wrote a letter asking
local politicians and Western governors for suggestions on ways to change
the management of America's newest National Monuments to allow for more
development.  Norton asked local lawmakers for their views on boundary
adjustments, vehicle use, access to private inholdings, rights-of-way,
grazing and water rights, "as well as the wide spectrum of other
traditional multiple uses that might be appropriately applied to these
lands." Since then, thousands of Americans have responded to the Department
of Interior in favor of fully protecting all newly designated National
Monuments.

"The wild and rugged landscapes that are our National Monuments and the
National Landscape Conservation System define the American West," said
William H. Meadows, President of the Wilderness Society.  "Landscapes like
Arizona's Grand Canyon-Parashant, Montana's Upper Missouri River Breaks and
California's Carrizo Plain National Monuments are part of our history, and
we want to ensure that they are part of our future.  Secretary Norton must
not endanger that future."

In their letter to Norton, conservationists call for the protection of the
biological, cultural, historic and spiritual values that were honored in
each National Monument proclamation. The groups also state their opposition
to any efforts to shrink monument boundaries or open new areas to
destructive activities such as mining, oil and gas drilling, and
irresponsible motorized vehicle use.

"We are very concerned that this administration continues to work to
undermine our National Monuments despite overwhelming public support for
their protection," said Gene Karpinski, U.S. Public Interest Research Group
Executive Director. "These are national treasures, not a resource warehouse
for the Bush Administration's friends in the energy industry."

Even with overwhelming public support, America's newest National Monuments
still face threats, including seismic thumper trucks in the Canyon of the
Ancients National Monument in Colorado, legislative attempts to reduce the
boundaries of the Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument in Montana,
and continued over-grazing and logging in Cascade-Siskiyou National
Monument in Oregon.

"We must safeguard, not sacrifice, our National Monuments," said Mark Van
Putten, President of the National Wildlife Federation. "The wildlife,
cultural, historic and spiritual values of these national treasures must be
protected for this and future generations."

For a copy of the groups' letter to Secretary Norton or more information,
please contact:

Jessica Hodge, Sierra Club, (202) 675-7910
Michael Carroll, Wilderness Support Center, (970) 247-8788
Matthew Hollamby, U.S. PIRG, (202) 546-9707
Marc Smith, National Wildlife Federation, (202) 797-6864

                                    ###


Erin Jordahl
Director, Iowa Chapter Sierra Club
3839 Merle Hay Road, Suite 280
Des Moines, IA 50310
515-277-8868
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