Feinstein Introduces Bill to Protect Santa Rosa/San Jacinto Mountains
June 26, 2000

Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) today introduced a bill to designate the Santa Rosa/San Jacinto mountain range in Southern California as a National Monument.

“The Santa Rosa/San Jacinto Mountains are home to magnificent vistas and unique wildlife,” Senator Feinstein said. “They rise from the desert floor to an elevation of almost 11,000 feet and contain nationally significant biological, cultural and educational resources. It is my hope that the Senate will approve this bill and protect these majestic mountains.”

The bill designates the Santa Rosa / San Jacinto range as a national monument and instructs the Department of Interior and the Forest Service to craft a plan to manage all public lands in the range.

National monument status limits development and agriculture on protected lands. It is the second highest level of protection Congress can provide public lands. The designation does not apply to privately-owned lands.

“The bill has bipartisan support in Congress and is supported by the local communities,” Feinstein continued. “This bill ensures that stakeholders have ample opportunity to provide input in this process.”

To that end, a community advisory committee will be created to advise the Department of Interior and the Forest service about community concerns.

Rep. Mary Bono (R-Calif.) introduced a companion measure to this bill earlier this year. The house version was passed out of the House Resources Committee last week.