06.26.15

Grijalva Reintroduces Package of Bills that Preserve, Protect and Restore Arizona Public Land, Citing Economic and Cultural Benefits

Washington, D.C. – Ranking Member Raúl M. Grijalva introduced a package of three Arizona public land bills yesterday – the Sonoran Desert Heritage Act, the Southern Arizona Public Lands Protection Act and the Santa Cruz Valley National Heritage Area Act – that mark the latest step in his ongoing efforts to preserve natural and cultural resources throughout the state. Grijalva will be in Arizona next week and available for media inquiries.

The Arizona public land bill package includes:

• The Sonoran Desert Heritage Act will preserve the ecology, cultural heritage, and recreational opportunities in the Sonoran Desert west of Phoenix. The bill establishes two National Conservation Areas and two Special Management Areas and adds 222,023 acres to the National Wilderness Preservation System. It was first introduced in the 113th Congress as H.R. 1799.

• The Southern Arizona Public Lands Protection Act withdraws, subject to valid existing rights, from all mineral laws the Bureau of Land Management and Forest Service land in Santa Cruz and Pima Counties. The biodiversity of the “Sky Islands” in the Southeastern Arizona are among the most threatened in North America by land development, climate change, poor livestock grazing practices, fire suppression, off-road vehicles, and resource extraction. The recent increase in mining proposals in the region has added importance and immediacy to this bill. It was first introduced in the 111th Congress as H.R. 1183.

• The Santa Cruz Valley National Heritage Area Act would designate approximately 3,325 square miles of the Santa Cruz Valley as a National Heritage Area – the average size for a Heritage Area. Residents of the Santa Cruz Valley are looking to preserve and restore their architectural heritage and already celebrate the region’s cultural traditions at multiple museums, parks, and annual festivals. A number of rural communities in the area still contain thriving cattle ranches, farms, orchards, vineyards, and copper mines. The House Republican majority refused to move the bill forward in the 113th Congress.

“The parks, public lands and trails throughout the state are not just an amenity – they’re part of our state’s cultural and historical fabric and make Arizona a great place to live,” Grijalva said. “Regions like the Santa Cruz Valley rely on tourism and offer educational programs that help educate the community about their heritage. We should never take these lands and historic sites for granted. Passing these bills means preserving our land and helping our state grow, both economically and culturally, and I look forward to their swift passage.”

“On behalf of our more than 12,000 members and supporters in Arizona, The Wilderness Society thanks Congressman Grijalva for his leadership on conserving Arizona’s valuable landscapes,” said Mike Quigley, Arizona State Director for The Wilderness Society. “These three bills focus on three very important areas of southern Arizona.  We’ve worked hard to make Sonoran Desert Heritage a model for thoughtful and responsible conservation. We ask all members of Arizona’s congressional delegation to work to secure these bills’ passage for the good of Arizona.”

The Sonoran Desert Heritage Act is supported by an immense and diverse coalition of environmental and historic preservation groups. A full list is available at http://www.sonoranheritage.org/supporters.