releases: https://walden.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-greg-walden-expresses-strong-opposition-national-monument
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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| https://walden.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-greg-walden-expresses-strong-opposition-national-monument | Rep. Greg Walden expresses strong opposition to national monument designation in Malheur County, urges Secretary to attend public meeting next week | 2015-10-23 | 2015 | 2015-10 | Republican | House | OR | Greg Walden | W000791 | walden.house.gov | legacy | Rep. Greg Walden expresses strong opposition to national monument designation in Malheur County, urges Secretary to attend public meeting next week October 23, 2015 The Honorable Sally Jewell Secretary U.S. Department of the Interior 1849 C Street NW Washington, D.C. 20240 Dear Secretary Jewell: Recent efforts by outside interest groups (see enclosed news article) to push for a massive National Monument designation in Malheur County, Oregon, have evoked strong opposition from local communities throughout the county. Malheur County, along with the local state elected officials, are holding a public forum in Adrian, Oregon, on October 29 to discuss the proposal and potential negative impacts on the community. I invite you (or a senior representative of your choosing) to attend this important forum to provide information on the Administration's consideration of this proposal and hear directly from the communities that would be directly impacted by the Department of the Interior's (DOI) actions. Oregonians have a strong and long tradition of successful, creative management of public and private lands to the benefit of the natural resources, while minimizing the negative impacts to local economies. You saw an example of this when you toured local efforts to proactively address sage grouse habitat in Lake County last year. The results of these locally driven efforts contrast starkly with the challenges posed by the creation of Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument, which eventually required congressional action to mitigate numerous negative impacts on local landowners. With examples like this for a precedent, talk that the DOI is strongly considering locking up 2.5 million acres, a massive portion of Malheur County, is understandably concerning to local communities. These hard-working local residents deserve to know where the federal government stands on the proposal that would affect their daily lives far beyond anyone else's. Agriculture provides the economic base for Malheur County. According to Oregon State University, agriculture generates over $370 million annually in the county, of which $134 million comes from cattle. The Bureau of Land Management and other federal agencies manage 4.5 million acres, or 73% of the land in the county, making public lands grazing an integral part of most local family ranch operations. Greatly restricting use of that land through a monument designation could have disastrous economic impacts to the county and the surrounding region. I am sharing here with you the concerns I've heard from large numbers of people across eastern Oregon about the impacts on their livelihoods by restricting use and access to portions of Malheur County larger than the states of Rhode Island and Connecticut combined through a National Monument designation. I strongly oppose the proposals I am aware of for a National Monument designation, and I think it's very important that you both outline formally to Malheur County and residents of eastern Oregon where the DOI stands on this proposal, as well as heed the strong local opposition to this effort and not make a national monument designation in Malheur County. Once again, I strongly encourage you, or a senior designee for you, to attend this forum and hear directly from those most affected by the decisions made on the public land that surrounds them. I appreciate your prompt attention to this matter, and look forward to your swift response. Best regards, Greg Walden Member of Congress Walden Letter to Jewell 10 23 15.pdf | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |