House Engrossed

federal lands; natural resources; permission

State of Arizona

House of Representatives

Fifty-sixth Legislature

Second Regular Session

2024

HOUSE CONCURRENT MEMORIAL 2006

A Concurrent Memorial

urging the United States Congress to enact legislation to require Congressional, state and county approval to alter Arizona federal land and to protect Arizona natural resource rights. 

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

To the Congress of the United States of America:

      Your memorialist respectfully represents:

Whereas, Arizona's great strength lies in the value of its public lands and the public's ability to access and use those lands for a variety of recreational uses; and

Whereas, nearly 50% of all land in Arizona is already under federal management, and the majority of Arizona's lands are restricted from public access and recreation; and

Whereas, Arizona currently has 18 monument designations, the most of any state, and there are more than 285 million acres of land and marine areas in monument status; and

Whereas, these monument designations have negatively impacted the state's ability to promote access to public recreation and to develop and maintain critical water resources, manage wildlife, restore habitat and perform wildlife translocations; and

Whereas, the federal government is unable to financially support and maintain the existing national parks and monuments and often ends up closing or restricting the use of these lands; and

Whereas, the designation of national monuments and subsequent closure or restricted use of public lands significantly interferes with Arizona's economic well-being; and

Whereas, the designation of monuments and conservation areas interferes with Arizona's ability to mitigate the risk of wildfire by thinning overly dense forests and adversely affects grazing practices, water conservation and proper soil erosion controls and practices; and

Whereas, designating an area as a national monument or other special use designation adds additional land use restrictions, prevents the multiple use of this land and curbs the use of the land's abundant natural resources; and

Whereas, the greatest threat to the lands of Arizona is the intrusion and overreach of the federal government.

Wherefore your memorialist, the House of Representatives of the State of Arizona, the Senate concurring, prays:

1. That the United States Congress enact legislation to protect local economies and to preserve local customs, cultures and historical uses by prohibiting the federal government from establishing, authorizing or declaring any new national monument, national park, wildlife refuge, conservation area, area of critical environmental concern, wild and scenic river, wilderness, wilderness characteristic area or any other federal reservation or special use designation within Arizona's border and from withdrawing or reserving any additional federal mineral, land, water or other national resource rights within Arizona's border, unless with:

(a) The express authorization of Congress.

(b) The express authorization of the Arizona State Legislature, while in session.

(c) The express authorization of the members of the county board of supervisors in all the counties that would be impacted by the designation, withdrawal or reservation.

2. That a comprehensive economic impact study be completed that analyzes the cumulative, tangible and measurable impacts to the national, state and local economies by the removal of the additional land, water or natural resources from economic production and that demonstrates the removal of these lands, water or natural resources represents the least burdensome and costly method to achieve the desired cultural, historical or environmental protections. The economic impact statement should include an analysis of the impacts to the state and local tax base, including property, income and sales tax.

3. That the Secretary of State of the State of Arizona transmit copies of this Memorial to the President of the United States, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives and each Member of Congress from the State of Arizona.