Jewell Says No Designation Plans For Owyhee Canyonlands

At a recent U.S. House of Representatives hearing, Oregon’s Congressman Greg Walden questioned Department of Interior Secretary Sally Jewell about the rumor of possibility of designating Owyhee Canyonlands in Malheur County as a National Monument. Here is the back and forth questioning between Walden and Jewell beginning with Congressman Walden.
Walden: “I want to get to the issue of the monument. You and I had a phone conversation about this. I know you met with [Harney County] Judge Grasty and Commissioner Runnells as well. The Malheur County Commission and judge there have written you expressing their opposition to any monument there. I just want to reconfirm that there’s no effort in your agency, there’s no coordination with [the Council on Environmental Quality in the White House] or the White House that you’re aware of to designate an Owyhee Canyons National Monument?”
Jewell: ““The concept of Owyhee Canyons came from, I think, Keen Footwear. It’s been kicking around. It’s one of those things people have recommended to us. But we have not held any community meetings, and we haven’t had any discussions in those communities. People haven’t been actively in my office asking about it.”
How would this rumored possible designation compare to other national landmarks? At 2.5 million acres, the Owyhee Canyonlands monument could be larger than Yellowstone National Park and twice the size of Grand Canyon National Park.