Biden to expand two California national monuments Thursday
Source: The Hill
05/02/24 5:00 AM ET
President Biden will expand two new national monuments in California Thursday morning, the White House confirmed.
President Obama first designated the two monuments, the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument and the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument. A White House official confirmed that the expansion, reported by The Hill in April, will protect some 120,000 acres between the two monuments. Bidens proclamation will also rename the Snow Mountain monuments central ridge from Walker Ridge to Molok Loyuk.
According to a White House fact sheet, the proclamation will protect another 105,919 acres of the San Gabriel Mountains monument on top of its existing 346,177. The monument, which is adjacent to the City of Los Angeles, also includes broad swathes of undeveloped land. Bidens expansion will also add 13,696 acres to the existing 330,000 acres covered by the Berryessa Snow Mountain monument.
In a statement, Vice President Harris, who is set to attend the signing ceremony with the president, highlighted her own roots in California and the administrations broader conservation goals. Harris introduced legislation in the Senate to expand the San Gabriel monument in 2020. Harris successor, Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), and Rep. Judy Chu (D-Calif.) have also long pushed for an expansion, with the House passing a companion bill to Harris sponsored by Chu at the time.
Read more: https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/4637567-joe-biden-california-national-monuments-expansion/
Link to White House FACT SHEET - FACT SHEET: President Biden Expands San Gabriel Mountains National Monument and Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument