From Grand Staircase to Grand Canyon Parashant: Is There a Monumental Future for the BLM?

This document is a transcript of remarks made at the University of Denver Law School by Bruce Babbitt, then the Secretary of the Interior. Secretary Babbitt was instrumental in identifying and justifying the large number of National Monument designations and expansions made by President Bill Clinton. In this presentation, Secretary Babbitt provides his perspective about the nature of National Monuments and the importance of the Antiquities Act.

Secretary Babbitt was appointed by President Clinton in 1993. He had one of the longest tenures of any Secretary of the 20th Century, ranking with other great Secretaries of the Interior, Stewart Udall, and Harold Ickes in length of service.
Among his many legacies is the preservation and restoration of a great deal of land to the public for multiple uses, including recreation. Secretary of Interior Babbitt was also responsible for the supervision of Indian Affairs. And he has been one of the most open and fair-minded Secretaries of the Interior dealing with this nation's Indian tribes.