Protecting Unique and Beautiful Landscapes by Investing in California (PUBLIC) Act to Further the 30X30 Agenda and Lock Up Public Lands

Jun 20, 2024 | Action Alert, ATV, BLM, California, Dirt Bike, Dispersed Camping, E-bike, Fight for Every Inch, Mountain Biking, National Monument, Off-Roading, Overlanding, Snowmobile, SXS, USFS, Western Phoenix Project | 0 comments

Senator Padilla of California recently introduced the Protecting Unique and Beautiful Landscapes by Investing in California (PUBLIC) Act. This bill will further protections on over one million acres of land within Northwest California, the Central Coast, and Los Angeles. This bill will designate 600,000 acres of new Wilderness in California and expand the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument. Send a letter using the form below telling your representatives to not support the PUBLIC Act and include any personal information at the beginning of why this legislation is bad for the American public.

This legislation is to further 30X30. The 30X30 agenda is the initiative to “protect” 30% of the United State’s lands and waters by the year 2030. The federal government already owns 47.7% of California’s total landmass which is 47,797,533 acres. 15 million acres, approximately 15% of the state has the highest levels of protection as Wilderness. It could be argued the nation has already achieved their 30X30 goal however this bill is proof that the laws and protections they already have in place is not enough. 30X30 is about control and not having multiple use. Lands will only be considered if humans are not able to utilize them. You can read the bill text here.

Because there are already protections in place and federal ownership of the lands included in this bill the legislation proposes that the more restrictive management option will take precedence.

“(B) RESOLUTION OF CONFLICT.—If there is a conflict between a law applicable to a component described in subparagraph (A) and this section, the more restrictive provision shall control.”

This bill will include three other bills that have previously been introduced by California representatives which are:

  • The Northwest California Wilderness, Recreation, and Working Forests Act, which is led in the House by Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.-02),
  • The Central Coast Heritage Protection Act, which is led in the House by Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-Calif.-24), and
  • The San Gabriel Mountains Foothills and Rivers Protection Act, which is led in the House by Rep. Judy Chu (D-Calif.-28).

California needs our help to stand up against this land grab and federal overreach.