Washington, DC- Today, the House Natural Resources Committee passed legislation from Ranking Member Peter DeFazio (D-Springfield) and Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) that would protect and expand the Oregon Caves National Monument. The legislation would expand the monument by 4,070 acres and designate the River Styx –the underground stream running through Oregon Caves- as the first subterranean Wild and Scenic River in the nation. The legislation is now eligible for consideration by the full House of Representatives. If passed, the bill will go to President Obama’s desk for his signature and become law.

“The Oregon Caves National Monument is a special place and very deserving of expansion. From the incredible caves system, to the rustic and charming 1930s Chateau, to the miles of trails with unforgettable views of the Siskiyou Mountains, Oregon Caves is a place worth visiting and revisiting. This bill would expand the monument to attract more visitors and support local businesses, direct the Park Service to complete necessary hazardous fuel work, and protect the first underground river under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. This legislation is supported by more than fifty local businesses, it’s supported by community members, and today the House Natural Resources Committee passed it without objection. I will continue to fight to bring it to the House floor when Congress returns in September and get it signed into law as quickly as possible,” said DeFazio.

More than 70,000 tourists visit Oregon Caves each year, generating $4.8 million in local revenues and supporting 70 local jobs in Josephine County and Cave Junction. An expansion is expected to draw even more visitors to the monument, who will spend more money at Josephine County motels, restaurants, gas stations, gift shops, and other small businesses.

The 4,070 acre expansion will be managed as a National Preserve, which will allow the National Park Service (NPS) to preserve hunting and fishing access for the public. Recently, NPS confirmed in a written letter to DeFazio that hunting and fishing access will be preserved under both the House and the Senate legislation. The expansion includes a key watershed important to the unique hydrology of the caves and the source of drinking water for 70,000 annual visitors. The legislation also provides for the voluntary donation of grazing permits within and near the monument to be permanently retired. The NPS and scientists have expressed concerns about the impact of grazing on the watershed, cave system, and drinking water supply.

Oregon Caves is the longest marble cave (3.5 miles) open to the public west of the Continental Divide. Oregon Caves National Monument was established in 1909 by President Howard Taft. At the time, the Secretary of the Interior proposed a monument of 2,500 acres but President Taft settled on 480 acres. Expansion has been proposed by the NPS on multiple occasions, first in 1939, again in 1949, and most recently in 1999. The NPS supports S.354/H.R. 2489 and testified in support of the legislation.

A companion bill was passed by the Senate this month. More than fifty stakeholder groups, many of which are small, local businesses in Cave Junction and Josephine County, have publicly supported the legislation. Their letters of support can be found here.

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