Comment from Rebecca Simon
Rebecca SimonOpposeIndividual
Summary: Rebecca Simon, an archaeologist and educator, opposes any modifications or repeals of existing regulations that would weaken protections for federal lands, specifically citing NAGPRA, NHPA, NEPA, ARPA, and the ESA. She argues that these regulations are necessary for environmental health, cultural heritage protection, and maintaining government-to-government relationships with Native Nations.
As an American citizen, archaeologist, and educator, I strongly oppose modifications and/or repeal of any existing regulations that would weaken protections for federal land. The Department of Interior has an obligation to protect of all their resources, including land, air, and water. Current regulations to implement long standing legislation such as the Native Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA), the Archeological Resources Protection Act (ARPA), the Endangered Species Act (ESA), and similar ecosystem protection laws must remain in place. The aforementioned legislation and related regulations do not pose a burden on progress within infrastructure or energy development. Rather, these acts and regulations provide the necessary checks and balances to provide access to necessary resources and protection of resources for the common good of the people of America. Crucial industries around the management of public lands provide jobs exist because of these acts and regulations. Last but certainly not least, invaluable relationships between public, private, and tribal entities exist because of the decades of cooperation because of these acts and regulations. Effective and necessary government-to-government relationships between tribes, the federal government, state governments, and local governments exist because of the steps detailed in these regulations. Please see the attached letter with my full statement against actions that would weaken protections on public lands and beyond in particular the NAGPRA, NHPA, ARPA, and NEPA.