Bill Overview
Title: Malheur Community Empowerment for the Owyhee Act
Description: This bill addresses various public land concerns in Malheur County in Oregon. The bill directs the Department of the Interior to prepare a programmatic environmental impact statement for certain federal land in the county. Interior shall develop plans for areas that are ecologically degraded or most at risk of being ecologically degraded. Interior shall establish the Malheur Community Empowerment for Owyhee Group, which shall, among other things, use such statement to review projects proposed to the Bureau of Land Management by group members, ranchers holding grazing permits on the federal land, or other members of the public. The bill also establishes a network to monitor such land, designates 1,133,481 acres of federal lands in the county as wilderness and components of the National Wilderness Preservation System, designates a 14.7-mile segment of Owyhee River as a recreational river, establishes improvements for certain loop roads, requires separate feasibility studies concerning Owyhee Reservoir, requires improvements to existing Oregon State Parks and private camps on the shore of the Reservoir, establishes a dude ranch at Birch Creek, requires a feasibility study on a specified rails-to-trails project, requires a feasibility study on marketing communities or portions of the county as the Gateway to the Oregon Owyhee, requires a determination of the use and conditions under which the Jordan Valley Airstrip may be used to support firefighting, establishes the Native Seed Center as the primary federal native seed repository in the Western States, and requires that land be taken into trust for the benefit of the Burns Paiute Tribe.
Sponsors: Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
Target Audience
Population: People in Malheur County, Oregon
Estimated Size: 30000
- The bill focuses on public lands in Malheur County, Oregon, impacting various groups within the county.
- The main populations impacted include residents of Malheur County, especially those in proximity to the designated lands.
- Ranchers holding grazing permits on the federal lands will be impacted due to their involvement in project reviews.
- Members of the Burns Paiute Tribe will be impacted due to land being taken into trust for their benefit.
- People involved in environmental and conservation efforts will be impacted due to the ecological and preservation aspects of the bill.
- Recreation enthusiasts may be impacted due to the designation of land as recreational and wilderness areas.
Reasoning
- Given the diverse impact points of the Malheur Community Empowerment for the Owyhee Act, a representative sample should include ranchers, members of the Burns Paiute Tribe, local residents, environmentalists, and recreational users.
- The population impacted is around 30,000 people in Malheur County and adjacent areas, but not all will be equally affected.
- Budget constraints suggest we should consider cost-effective measures and prioritize initiatives that foster long-term ecological, recreational, and cultural benefits.
- We've selected individuals who can provide a spectrum of perspectives on the direct and indirect impacts, as well as potential changes in wellbeing resulting from the policy.
Simulated Interviews
Rancher (Jordan Valley, Oregon)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The new wilderness designations could limit my access to grazing lands, affecting my livelihood.
- Involvement in the project review process is a positive step.
- Concerned about the feasibility of proposed recreational developments.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Teacher (Ontario, Oregon)
Age: 32 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm excited about the improvements to state parks and recreational areas.
- Hope the policy brings more educational opportunities about conservation.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Environmental Scientist (Burns, Oregon)
Age: 27 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy is crucial for addressing ecological degradation.
- The monitoring network and native seed center are excellent initiatives.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 10 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 10 | 5 |
Retired (Vale, Oregon)
Age: 60 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The land trust for the Burns Paiute Tribe is a vital step towards preserving our heritage and culture.
- Skeptical about the execution of these plans.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
Hiking Enthusiast (Boise, Idaho)
Age: 22 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Excited about the new recreational river designation and wilderness areas.
- Concerned about environmental impacts from increased tourism.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Local Business Owner (Nyssa, Oregon)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Hoping for an increase in business due to more tourism.
- Worried about potential restrictions impacting park access.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Recreational Planner (Portland, Oregon)
Age: 29 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy enhances recreational opportunities, which is positive.
- Challenges lie in balancing conservation and recreation.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Wildlife Biologist (Adrian, Oregon)
Age: 34 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy's ecological focus is promising for wildlife preservation.
- Implementation effectiveness remains a key concern.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 10 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 10 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 10 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 10 | 5 |
Photographer (Bend, Oregon)
Age: 39 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The natural beauty of these sites is invaluable for my work.
- I'm concerned about potential overregulation affecting access.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Ranch Manager (Rome, Oregon)
Age: 55 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Designating more land as wilderness might restrict grazing potential.
- The group review process allows us a voice, which is beneficial.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $30000000 (Low: $20000000, High: $40000000)
Year 2: $35000000 (Low: $25000000, High: $45000000)
Year 3: $40000000 (Low: $30000000, High: $50000000)
Year 5: $50000000 (Low: $35000000, High: $65000000)
Year 10: $55000000 (Low: $40000000, High: $70000000)
Year 100: $60000000 (Low: $45000000, High: $75000000)
Key Considerations
- The impact of designating lands as wilderness restricts certain economic activities, which needs to be weighed against ecological benefits.
- The feasibility studies outlined in the bill are critical to determining the long-term sustainability and profitability of proposed projects.
- Tourism and recreation benefits need balancing with conservation goals to maximize local economic development.