http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20140311/articles/140319932

President Barack Obama signs a document proclaiming the Point Arena-Stornetta Public Lands as part of the California Coastal National Monument during a signing ceremony in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Tuesday, March 11, 2014. From left are: Scott Schneider, President and CEO, Visit Mendocino County Inc.; Leslie Dahlhoff, Former Mayor, Point Arena; Michael Boots, Acting Chair of the Council on Environmental Quality; Neil Kornze, Principal Deputy Director, Bureau of Land Management; Rep. Jared Huffman, D-Calif.; Rep. Mike Thompson, D-Calif.; Nancy Sutley, Former Chair of the Council on Environmental Quality. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

By MARY CALLAHAN
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
March 11, 2014, 9:26 AM

President Barack Obama made it official Tuesday with an executive order bringing the Point Arena-Stornetta Public Lands into the California Coastal National Monument. Among those present for the Oval Office ceremony was Larry Stornetta, whose family owned the property for three generations. “Unbelievable. Unbelievable,” Stornetta, 64, said from the Philadelphia airport Monday en route to Washington. “It’s a once in a lifetime deal.”

Stornetta Lands National Monument Designation

President Barack Obama speaks before he signs a document designating the Point Arena-Stornetta Public Lands as part of the California Coastal National Monument during a signing ceremony in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, Tuesday, March 11, 2014. Pictured from left to right: Merita Whatley, Manager, Point Arena Lighthouse and member of Point Arena Merchants Association; Scott Schneider, President and CEO, Visit Mendocino County Inc.; Leslie Dahlhoff, Former Mayor, Point Arena; Michael Boots, Acting Chair of the Council on Environmental Quality; Neil Kornze, Principal Deputy Director, Bureau of Land Management; Rep. Jared Huffman, D-Calif.; Rep. Mike Thompson, D-Calif.; Nancy Sutley, Former Chair of the Council on Environmental Quality; Larry Stornetta, rancher and former land owner of a portion of the Point Arena-Stornetta Public Lands; Eloisa Oropeza, Tribal Chairwoman, Manchester-Point Arena Band of Pomo Indians.

President Barack Obama signs a document proclaiming the Point Arena-Stornetta Public Lands as part of the California Coastal National Monument during a signing ceremony in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Tuesday, March 11, 2014. From left are: Scott Schneider, President and CEO, Visit Mendocino County Inc.; Leslie Dahlhoff, Former Mayor, Point Arena; Michael Boots, Acting Chair of the Council on Environmental Quality; Neil Kornze, Principal Deputy Director, Bureau of Land Management; Rep. Jared Huffman, D-Calif.; Rep. Mike Thompson, D-Calif.; Nancy Sutley, Former Chair of the Council on Environmental Quality.

President Barack Obama finishes signing a document proclaiming the Point Arena-Stornetta Public Lands as part of the California Coastal National Monument during a signing ceremony in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Tuesday, March 11, 2014. From left are: Scott Schneider, President and CEO, Visit Mendocino County Inc.; Leslie Dahlhoff, Former Mayor, Point Arena; Michael Boots, Acting Chair of the Council on Environmental Quality; Neil Kornze, Principal Deputy Director, Bureau of Land Management; Rep. Jared Huffman, D-Calif.; Rep. Mike Thompson, D-Calif.; Nancy Sutley, Former Chair of the Council on Environmental Quality.

In the absence of Senate approval of the legislation, the White House announced Saturday that Obama would use his authority under the 1906 Antiquities Act to add the Stornetta lands to the 1,100-mile California Coastal National Monument, a collection of more than 20,000 off-shore reefs, rocks, islands and seastacks.

Special thanks to Richard Charter