ASHLAND, Ore. – On Friday, Oct. 14, Deputy Secretary of the Interior Michael L. Connor will join Senator Jeff Merkley, as well as other federal, local and tribal officials, to hear comments on the management of public lands in Southwest Oregon and proposed expansion of the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument.
At the invitation of U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Barbara Boxer (D-CA), as well as Mayor John Stromberg of Ashland and Mayor Darby Stricker of Talent, Deputy Secretary Connor will attend a public meeting to listen to members of the community and hear their vision, including the legislative proposal to expand the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument. In August, Senators Merkley and Wyden sent a letter urging U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell to expand the monument in order to continue protecting the ecological integrity of the area.
The Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument is the first monument established solely for the preservation of biodiversity, in recognition of its spectacular variety of rare and beautiful species of plants and animals.
You can find a map of the proposed national monument expansion here.
WHO:
Michael L. Connor, U.S. Deputy Secretary of the Interior
Senator Jeff Merkley
John Stromberg, Mayor of Ashland, Ore.
Darby Stricker, Mayor of Talent, Ore.
Local and Tribal officials
WHAT:
Public meeting with federal, local and tribal officials to discuss the proposed expansion of the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument
WHEN:
Friday, Oct. 14, 2016
2:00 PM PDT – Public meeting begins
WHERE:
Southern Oregon University
Stevenson Union
Rogue River Room
1250 Siskiyou Boulevard
Ashland, Oregon 97520
Source: Department of Interior
