Mineral withdrawal the right option for Methow headwaters

The Pacific Northwest, and especially Central Washington, is rightfully famous for our abundance of natural beauty.

The Methow Valley in the northwestern corner of Okanogan County is a spectacular example of the pristine Washington landscape that we have the privilege to enjoy.

The scenic valley serves as a gateway to the North Cascades National Park and attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors each year to fish, hunt and hike. Recreation and tourism underpin the local economy.

Working together, the local community in the Methow has actively sought to preserve the valley’s unique rural character.

Residents, the local Chamber of Commerce, hunters and anglers, farmers, and more than 150 businesses have joined in support for a 20-year withdrawal from mineral exploration in the Methow Headwaters area.

Okanogan County and the Okanogan Highlands region have historically cultivated a significant mining and resource-based economy, but there is clearly broad support among residents in the Methow Valley to support this proposal.

As the Fourth Congressional District’s representative, I support giving more control to local communities. The federal government should listen and respect local decisions, whether those decisions support development or conservation efforts.

Last week, I requested that federal agencies, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and U.S. Department of Interior, act in accordance with local desire to remove the roughly 300,000 acre region from mineral development for the next 20 years.

These federal agencies are responsible for evaluating the mineral withdrawal process, so I requested that they complete the environmental review and final recommendation before the required deadline of Dec. 30, 2018.

The USDA and Department of Interior support initiatives to create a conservation stewardship legacy, promote agriculture and rural prosperity, and to be a good neighbor.

I believe that the proposed withdrawal is entirely consistent with those goals.

I support Methow Valley residents’ request for a 20-year mining exploration withdrawal, and the federal government should not only respect that desire, but work in an efficient way to make that desire a reality.