To the Editor:

I support Jim Hammett’s call last week for increased federal investment in the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument. Grant County is rural, natural resource dependent and over 60 percent federally owned and managed. What happens, or not, on federal land within the county significantly impacts the socioeconomic opportunities and pulse for area communities whether the land is administered by the Forest Service, BLM or National Park Service.

As a former Grant County judge, I believe one of the most effective ways to increase and diversify the value of our natural resources is for Congress to responsibly invest in and wisely manage its assets in Grant County. This will result in new, outside dollars coming to the county that will enhance local infrastructure and create additional socioeconomic opportunities that enrich the quality of rural life many of us care about, as well as the public experience of those who visit the area.

That is why Jim Hammett’s recent op-ed on the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument was so timely. The Fossil Beds represent a federal asset in our backyard that supports over 150 jobs and generates $10 million in local spending. It is an asset well worth protecting, maintaining, and investing in. It is also a strategic investment because it diversifies the value of the county’s existing natural resources and thereby contributes to a more robust local economy.

Mr. Hammett is right: Eclipse visitors will return, and we should ensure the Fossil Beds have the necessary resources to keep its facilities open, safe and accessible to the growing number of future visitors. Unfortunately, there is a serious maintenance backlog at the Fossil Beds that needs to be addressed. Fortunately, the bipartisan bill before Congress, H.R. 2584, the National Park Service Legacy Act, is a good way to address that problem at the Fossil Beds — and indeed, at national parks across Oregon and the country. I encourage folks to support this bill and ensure it gets passed so that everyone can enjoy the benefits of our rich natural resources in Grant County.

Mark Webb

Mt. Vernon