The Antiquities Act made the destruction of sites on federal lands and the removal of artifacts from them punishable by law. And, in a little-noticed clause, it also gave presidents the authority to declare national monuments of historic or scientific interest.
What the park service didn’t disclose in the list of potential dangers I’d encounter on my hike was perhaps the scariest of all – a radioactive creek whose uranium levels exceeds EPA safe drinking water standards.
“Did you come from…down there?” I had just hiked more than 13 miles and climbed nearly 5,000 feet on the last day of my trip, and I was not in any mood to entertain tourists.
