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FRIDAY, MARCH 31, 2017 VOLUME 90, NUMBER 13 WWW.CAPITALPRESS.COM $2.00 Courtesy of Bob Wick/BLM A view of Mount Shasta from the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monu- ment near Ashland, Ore. Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument expansion Area in detail Original monument boundary Newly expanded boundary Cascade Medford 238 JA C K S O N 99 140 K LA M ATH Aspen Lake 5 By MATEUSZ PERKOWSKI Capital Press E agle Point, Ore. — To rancher Lee Bradshaw, the presidential order nearly doubling the size of the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument was both shocking and predictable. Ever since the original 53,000 acres of public land were designated as a monument in 2000, there had been whispers about enlarging it. Even so, the announcement during the fi nal days of President Barack Obama’s administration in early 2017 ap- peared rushed to Bradshaw, particularly since a handful of meetings held about the expansion were more about creating hype than seeking public input, he said. “I knew it was coming our way, but it was unexpected about the way they did it,” Bradshaw said. With the federal government adding 47,000 acres to the monument, the ranching and timber industries in Southern Oregon are bracing for the worst. Mateusz Perkowski/Capital Press Rancher Lee Bradshaw visits with a horse at his property near Eagle Point, Ore. A cattle grazing allotment that Bradshaw relies upon is included in the recent expansion of the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument. Critics of the monument say they’ve seen the eco- nomic damage caused by the original designation, lead- ing them to expect similar restrictions on grazing and Range 66 10 miles Ore. Calif. y Siski ou Mt r CASCADE- SISKIYOU NAT’L MON. ive N R ns. th The near doubling of the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument threatens ranchers, timber operations and counties Ashland Kl a m a 5 Ore. Calif. Alan Kenaga/Capital Press logging within the expanded boundary. “Through no fault of their own, their operations are in jeopardy,” said John O’Keeffe, president of the Oregon Cat- tlemen’s Association. Meanwhile, supporters have cheered the expansion of the monument, which they believe was shortchanged in the initial designation. “We knew the footprint wasn’t as large as the scien- tists had hoped for,” said Terry Dickey, board chairman of the Friends of the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument, which promotes and advocates for the monument. Battle looms This time, though, the timber industry and county govern- ments are spearheading a legal battle against the monument expansion, arguing the federal government lacks the authority to restrict logging on much of the newly included property. Turn to BATTLE, Page 12 Some Washington ranchers Trump adviser: No more EPA-funded attacks on farmers fear USFS taking their grazing Farm group applauds remark By DON JENKINS Capital Press President Trump’s top ag- ricultural adviser says the new administration won’t tolerate federal support for advocacy campaigns like What’s Up- stream. Ray Starling, special as- sistant to the president for agriculture, trade and food assistance, outlined the White House’s farm policy priorities in a speech March 21 at the National Press Club in Wash- ington, D.C. “This administration will not allow the EPA to give taxpayer dollars to activist groups who then turn around and put up billboards that at- tack our farmers and ranch- ers,” said Starling, a former general counsel for the North Carolina Department of Agri- culture. The promise cheered Ger- By DAN WHEAT Capital Press Courtesy of ZimmComm New Media President Trump’s special assistant on agriculture Ray Starling speaks March 21 at the National Press Club in Wash- ington, D.C. Starling said the new administration won’t allow the EPA to fund more billboard attacks on farmers, a reference to the What’s Upstream cam- paign in Washington state. ald Baron, director of Save Family Farming, which was formed last year to respond Turn to EPA, Page 12 OKANOGAN, Wash. — The U.S. Forest Service denies that it’s trying to re- strict or take away ranchers’ grazing rights in Okanogan County, but U.S. Rep. Dan Newhouse, R-Wash., isn’t buying it. And Okanogan County Commissioner Jim DeTro believes the Forest Service’s aggressive stance may even be part of a larger effort by the agency to restrict grazing before Sonny Perdue is con- fi rmed as U.S. agriculture secretary since he is presum- ably pro-grazing. Starting in January, the USFS issued non-compli- ance letters to 23 of 39 graz- Dan Wheat/Capital Press Calves on winter feeding grounds on a ranch in Okanogan County, Wash., last March. Ranchers are concerned the U.S. Forest Service is trying to curtail their summer grazing this year. ing allotment holders in the Tonasket Ranger District in Okanogan County — far more than the usual number of letters. Ranchers in a Feb. 22 letter to the USFS protested that they have not received any justifi cation for the let- ters that allege over grazing, grazing in unauthorized ar- eas and streambank damage. Newhouse wrote a letter to USFS Region 6 Forester Turn to GRAZING, Page 12 JOIN US FOR OUR OPEN HOUSES!!! Jerome, Idaho – April 5th Heyburn, Idaho – April 6th Twin Falls, Idaho – April 7th www.i-newholland.com 13-1\#16