THE PUSH TO RECLASSIFY PINNACLES NATIONAL MONUMENT AS A NATIONAL PARK REACHED A NEW HIGH POINT THURSDAY, WHEN LEGISLATION FOR THE RECLASSIFICATION WAS SENT TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, A NATIONAL MONUMENT IS DEFINED AS PRESERVING AT LEAST ONE SIGNIFICANT RESOURCE, AS OPPOSED TO A NATIONAL PARK WHICH CONTAINS A VARIETY OF NATIONALLY SIGNIFICANT RESOURCES. RENAMING PINNACLES AS A NATIONAL PARK WOULD BE A BIG STEP FORWARD FOR THE AREA, ULTIMATELY CREATING MORE TOURISM. THE CALIFORNIA HOUSE NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED OF THE LEGISLATION, WHICH WAS INTRODUCED BY REP. SAM FARR IN 2011. IF APPROVED, PINNACLES NATIONAL PARK WILL BECOME THE 59TH NATIONAL PARK IN THE SYSTEM.
