Drawing criticism from some local lawmakers
The new status is being championed by Rep. Judy Chu (D-Monterey Park), who introduced a bill this year to address problems in the 655,000-acre range by creating a "national recreation area" co-managed by the U.S. Forest Service and the National Park Service. Legislation on her bill has stalled.
In a letter sent to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack last week, Chu pressed for upgrades in the form of new recreation areas, parking facilities, restrooms, education kiosks, trails and a visitor reception program to welcome and orient visitors.
The proposal, however, is drawing criticism from some local lawmakers over its potential effects on private property rights, firefighting, water quality and flood control in the mountains, which stretch from Santa Clarita to San Bernardino.
"We have strong concerns about this proposal and its impacts," Tony Bell, spokesman for Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich said Monday.
Bell said his office first learned about the national monument proposal a few days ago from the county Department of Public Works, which is scrambling to figure out whether it might affect life-saving flood control systems.
National monument designation would at a minimum complicate Antonovich's recent proposal to route the state's planned high-speed rail route through the San Gabriels.