Survey Team Examines Give It Back! Lands
Donna Charpied July 2004

The Center for Community Action and Environmental Justice along with the Citizens for the Chuckwalla Valley researched two laws enacted in the 1950’s, when President Truman removed lands from Joshua Tree National Monument for the purpose of mineral exploitation. The laws are clear, and the Give It Back! campaign was developed.1 The campaign is focused on 29,775 acres of land located in the Eagle Mountains. The campaign enjoys the support of many individuals and organizations including National Parks Conservation Association, California Wilderness Coalition, Sierra Club, Western Land Exchange Project, Environmental Health Coalition, California Certified Organic Farmers, Desert Survivors, Center for Biological Diversity, and Inland Mexican Heritage to name a few.2

On July 20th a team of citizens traveled to the subject lands to observe any intrusions and to determine if it is appropriate to restore to Joshua Tree National Park.

The Survey Team

GIVE IT BACK! SURVEY TEAM

L to R front row:

Terry Frewin, CN/RCC Desert Committee; Jim Dodson, Wild Planet Strategy; Team Holly Owens, CA Wild Heritage Campaign

L to R back row:

Howard Gross, NPCA; Larry Charpied, Citizens for the Chuckwalla Valley; Bryn Jones, California Wilderness Coalition

Not shown:

Donna Charpied, Center for Community Action and Environmental Justice

We traveled approximately 11 miles through Joshua Tree National Park on the Black Eagle Mine Road to the western boundary beginning the Give It Back! lands that are currently administered by the Bureau of Land Management.

Park Lands BLM Lands
 

The only discernable difference between Park and BLM lands is the sign

  

We drove about another 3 miles through BLM lands and then hiked to the “back door” of the defunct Eagle Mountain iron ore mine. Along the way we noticed very little intrusions from OHV use. We observed a few old mining claims, but mostly the land is pristine and untrammeled by man.

Pinto Basin Pinto Basin viewed from a ridge
 

The Pinto Basin
in background

  

On top of a ridge
for a bird's-eye view

  

We drove back to the “Cactus Mine Road” that is the boundary road between Joshua Tree and BLM land about 3 1/2 to 4 miles travelling north until the road disappeared. Again we found little intrusions and land that is worthy of being restored to the Park.

1 September 25, 1950, Congress deleted 265,340 acres from Joshua Tree National Park by enacting Public Law 837. The President ordered a survey of minerals to “determine to what extent said area is more valuable for minerals than for National Monument purposes”.

July 8, 1952 Congress enacted Private Law 790 (“PL790“) granting certain rights-of-way and issuing patent to 465 acres of land to Kaiser Steel Corporation for campsite/millsite purposes. PL790 included the expressed condition that “said property shall revert in fee to the United States in the event that said property is not used for a continuous period of seven years as a camp site or mill site or for other incidental purposes in connection with mining operations of said corporation or its successors in interest”. It was fully intended by Congress and the President that this land would go back to public ownership if not used for the purposes of which the Acts were created, “the development of the Steel industry on the West Coast” (Source: House Report No. 398 that accompany PL790).

2 For more information on the Give It Back! campaign see www.ccaej.org and click the Desert Protection Project

A brief history of the establishment of Joshua Tree National Park

In 1936 Joshua Tree National Monument was established by presidential proclamation, to protect and preserve the area’s historic, prehistoric, and scientific features, including the natural resources of the Colorado and Mojave Deserts. This proclamation further recognized that it is in the public interest to reserve Joshua Tree as a National Monument. In 1976 Joshua Tree was given federal wilderness designation. In 1977 it received Class I wilderness airshed status. In 1984 it was designated a world biosphere reserve.

In 1994 Congress reaffirmed that Joshua Tree is “a public wildland resource of extraordinary and inestimable value for this and future generations.” California Desert Protection Act, section 2(a)(1). On October 31, 1994 Congress added 234,000 acres to the monument, designated an additional 163,000 acres as wilderness, and affirmed Joshua Tree’s status as a nationally significant area by designating it a National Park. Congress’ stated purpose in doing so was to “secure for the American people of this and future generations an enduring heritage of wilderness, national parks, and public land values in the California desert.” Id. Congress specifically cited the need to protect the Park from “incompatible development and inconsistent management of . . . contiguous Federal lands of essential and superlative natural, ecological, archeological, paleontological, cultural, historical, and wilderness values.” 16 U.S.C. § 410aaa(3). Today the Park comprises 794,000 acres.

Citizens for the Chuckwalla Valley are grateful to the Center for Community Action and Environmental Justice, The California Endowment, Ben & Jerry’s Foundation, ACORN Foundation, Tides Foundation and the Sierra Club for their continued support and generous financial assistance.