Oregon Caves expansion bill clears second-to-last hurdle to congressional passage

The Oregonian
By Jeff Mapes
July 31, 2014

A bill that would expand the Oregon Caves National Monument by 4,070 acres and provide additional protections for the River Styx passed the House Natural Resources Committee on Wednesday.

If the Senate-passed measure is approved by the full House, it will then head to President Barack Obama for his signature.

Supporters of the national monument in southern Oregon have been seeking for years to provide an additional buffer zone around the 480-acre monument that would better protect the watershed for the caves. The monument consists of the longest marble cave -- 3.5 miles -- west of the Continental Divide that is open to the public.

Under the measure, the River Styx, which flows through the cave system, would become the first underground river to receive wild and scenic designation, according to Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore.

DeFazio, the ranking Democrat on the natural resources committee, hailed the passage of the bill, which he said would better protect the resource and attract more visitors to the monument.

"This legislation is supported by more than 50 local businesses, it's supported by community members, and today the House Natural Resources Committee passed it without objection," DeFazio said in a press release. "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."