Rep. Wally Herger (R., CA) introduces bill to destroy National
Historic Preservation Act and Mount Shasta's Designation
On January 18, 1995, Representative Wally Herger introduced bill
HR 563 into the House of Representatives. If passed, HR 563 would
severely affect protection of Native American sacred sites under
the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA). It demands that
Mount Shasta's historical designation be removed.
Proposed bill bars any site that does not contain "physical
evidence of human activity."
The gist of the proposed legislation is that any sites left in
their natural state, such as those used for spiritual guidance,
vision quests, training of doctors, ceremonies and other
activities which traditionally left sites the way they were made
by the Creator, would not be protected under NHPA.
THIS BILL CAN AFFECT ANY SACRED SITE!
Even though HR 563 states that previous designations will not be
affected by this section, it goes on to say that Mount Shasta's
designation (made in March 1994) must be prohibited.
HR 563 specifically targets Mount Shasta, stating that "Mt.
Shasta...may not be designated by any agency or authority of the
United States as a historic district, historic site or national
monument" under NHPA or the Antiquities Act. The fact is that
Mount Shasta has already been designated and that this bill
intends to undo that designation.
Rep. Herger is a close ally of developers who have tried for over
ten years to put a massive ski resort on Mt. Shasta. He and
others in the "Wise Use Movement" (timber, oil, mining, ranching
industries together with right wing politicians) have fomented
fear and false rumors about property rights and "takings" here in
the Mt. Shasta community. Herger has become the darling of the
Republican tide in rural Northern California.
Mount Shasta is recognized by Native American tribes and by global
citizens everywhere as one of the most important sacred sights in
the entire United States. The recent historic designation
provides some protection for the mountain against large-scale
commercial development.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
1. Write to the officials below and ask that HR 563 be withdrawn
and opposed. The bill discriminates against Native American sites
and against Mount Shasta in particular. Mount Shasta needs to be
protected and the Native traditions respected. Ask all of your
friends and family to write.
2. Demand withdrawal of HR 563 because:
a) it destroys the effectiveness of the National Historic
Preservation Act's protection of sacred sites.
b) it discriminates against Native Americans
c) it particularly affects the preservation of Mount Shasta.
d) and it violates the trust relationship between Native people
and the US government.
e) Also, please protest the drastic reduction of the Mount Shasta
Historic District (was at 4000 feet - now reduced to the 8000 foot
boundary). State your support for the designation of the entire
mountain as an Historic District.
3. Explain to your friends around the country that this bill
could affect any site in their area, also.
President Bill Clinton Representative Wally
Herger The White House House of Representatives
1600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW Washington, DC 20515 Washington,
DC 20500
Bruce Babbitt, Secretary Senator Barbara Boxer
Department of the Interior 112 Hart Senate Office
Bldg. Washington, DC 20040 Washington, DC 20510
Senator Diane Feinstein 331 Hart Senate Office Bldg. Washington,
DC 20510
You can also request to be put on the Forest Service mailing list
in order to be notified about future actions concerning Mount
Shasta. Make your request to:
Forest Supervisor Steve Fitch Shasta-Trinity National Forests 2400
Washington Redding, CA 96001
Thank you!
Ana Holub Mount Shasta Bioregional Ecology Center
aholub@snowcrest.net