II 

115TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 1714 

To provide for the conduct of certain economic activities in Malheur County, 

Oregon, to provide for the conduct of a study on the need for a regional 

economic commission for certain counties in the State of Oregon, to 

withdraw certain Federal land located in Malheur County, Oregon, from 

all forms of entry, appropriation, or disposal under the public land 

laws, location, entry, and patent under the mining laws, and operation 

under the mineral leasing laws, and for other purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

AUGUST 2, 2017 

Mr. WYDEN (for himself and Mr. MERKLEY) introduced the following bill; 

which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry 

A BILL 

To provide for the conduct of certain economic activities 

in Malheur County, Oregon, to provide for the conduct 

of a study on the need for a regional economic commission for certain counties in the State of Oregon, to 

withdraw certain Federal land located in Malheur County, Oregon, from all forms of entry, appropriation, or 

disposal under the public land laws, location, entry, and 

patent under the mining laws, and operation under the 

mineral leasing laws, and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 


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1 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 

2 (a) IN GENERAL.—This Act may be cited as the 

3 ‘‘Southeastern Oregon Development Act’’. 

4 (b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 

5 this Act is as follows: 

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 

Sec. 2. Definitions. 

TITLE I—ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES IN 

SOUTHEASTERN OREGON 

Sec. 101. Water development. 

Sec. 102. Establishment of an Agricultural Center for Rangeland Excellence. 

Sec. 103. Rural fire assistance. 

Sec. 104. Infrastructure assistance to promote economic development in rural 

communities. 

Sec. 105. Workforce development training grants. 

Sec. 106. Authorization of appropriations. 

TITLE II—REGIONAL COMMISSION STUDY 

Sec. 201. Study. 

TITLE III—SOUTHEASTERN OREGON WITHDRAWAL AREA 

Sec. 301. Definitions. 

Sec. 302. Designation of Southeastern Oregon Withdrawal Area. 

Sec. 303. Purposes and management. 

Sec. 304. Authorization of appropriations. 

Sec. 305. Effect of title. 

6 SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 

7 In this Act: 

8 (1) CITY.—The term ‘‘City’’ means a city or 

9 unincorporated community in the County. 

10 (2) COUNTY.—The term ‘‘County’’ means 

11 Malheur County, Oregon. 

12 (3) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 

13 the Secretary of the Interior. 


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1 (4) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means the State 

2 of Oregon. 

3 (5) WITHDRAWAL AREA.—The term ‘‘with4 drawal area’’ means the Southeastern Oregon With5 drawal Area established by section 302(a). 

6 TITLE I—ECONOMIC DEVELOP7 MENT ACTIVITIES IN SOUTH8 EASTERN OREGON 

9 SEC. 101. WATER DEVELOPMENT. 

10 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Agriculture shall 

11 provide grants for projects in the State to develop modern 

12 and efficient water systems that are designed— 

13 (1) to provide adequate water supply and im14 prove water storage for livestock, other agricultural 

15 users, and wildlife; 

16 (2) to keep livestock out of rivers, streams, and 

17 riparian areas; and 

18 (3) to find innovative ways to address water 

19 needs for fighting fires and protecting habitats. 

20 (b) UPDATES AND REPLACEMENTS TO WATERING

21 SYSTEMS.—In providing grants under subsection (a), the 

22 Secretary of Agriculture may provide grants for projects 

23 in the State to update or replace watering systems within 

24 the boundary of the withdrawal area with more efficient 

25 systems. 


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1 SEC. 102. ESTABLISHMENT OF AN AGRICULTURAL CENTER 

2 FOR RANGELAND EXCELLENCE. 

3 The Secretary of Agriculture shall establish an Agri4 cultural Center for Rangeland Excellence to be located in 

5 the County— 

6 (1) to collaborate with the Department of Agri7 culture Research Station in Harney County, Oregon, 

8 Oregon State University Extension Livestock Range9 land Management Program in the County, local ag10 ricultural producers, and other entities, as appro11 priate; 

12 (2) to conduct rangeland and grazing research, 

13 including the conduct of research that addresses 

14 invasive species and water storage improvements for 

15 livestock and wildlife; 

16 (3) to collaborate with agricultural researchers 

17 and producers in the County and surrounding area 

18 to improve grazing practices; and 

19 (4) to provide to the Director of the Bureau of 

20 Land Management any findings of the Center to as21 sist in preparing applicable allotment management 

22 plans. 

23 SEC. 103. RURAL FIRE ASSISTANCE. 

24 (a) REAUTHORIZATION OF RURAL FIREFIGHTER AS25 SISTANCE PROGRAM.— 


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1 (1) USE OF FUNDS.—Section 6405(d) of the 

2 Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 

3 U.S.C. 2655(d)) is amended— 

4 (A) in paragraph (9), by striking ‘‘or’’ at 

5 the end; 

6 (B) in paragraph (10), by striking the pe7 riod at the end and inserting ‘‘; or’’; and 

8 (C) by adding at the end the following: 

9 ‘‘(11) to fund operating expenses of firefighters, 

10 including expenses for training, equipment, insur11 ance, maintenance, and fuel.’’. 

12 (2) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— 

13 Section 6405(g)(1) of the Farm Security and Rural 

14 Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 2655(g)(1)) is 

15 amended by striking ‘‘each of fiscal years 2008 

16 through 2012’’ and inserting ‘‘each fiscal year’’. 

17 (3) LIMITATION.—Section 6405 of the Farm 

18 Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 

19 U.S.C. 2655) is amended by adding at the end the 

20 following: 

21 ‘‘(h) LIMITATION.—In carrying out the program 

22 under this section, the Secretary shall, to the maximum 

23 extent practicable, minimize the administrative and paper24 work burden imposed on recipients of financial assistance 

25 under this section.’’. 


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1 (b) SURPLUS EQUIPMENT PROGRAM.—The Secre2 taries of Homeland Security and Defense and the Sec3 retary (referred to in this subsection as the ‘‘Secretaries’’) 

4 shall establish a program within the Departments of 

5 Homeland Security, Defense, and the Interior, respec6 tively, under which the Secretaries shall transfer to States 

7 and units of local government surplus equipment of the 

8 applicable Department that can be used in firefighting, in9 cluding surplus mechanical equipment and communication 

10 devices. 

11 (c) ESTABLISHMENT OF FUEL BREAKS ALONG CER12 TAIN ELIGIBLE ACCESS ROADS.— 

13 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall establish 

14 a program within the Bureau of Land Management 

15 for the establishment and maintenance of strategic 

16 fuel breaks from which firefighters would be able to 

17 safely operate— 

18 (A) to preserve critical sage grouse habitat; 

19 and 

20 (B) to support the ranching community in 

21 the vicinity of the fuel breaks. 

22 (2) PRIORITY.—In determining the placement 

23 of strategic fuel breaks under paragraph (1), the 

24 Secretary shall— 


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1 (A) consult with land managers to assess 

2 whether the fuel break serves the purposes de3 scribed in that paragraph; and 

4 (B) give priority to fuel breaks that the 

5 Secretary determines would serve the purposes 

6 described in that paragraph. 

7 SEC. 104. INFRASTRUCTURE ASSISTANCE TO PROMOTE 

8 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN RURAL COM9 MUNITIES. 

10 (a) INFRASTRUCTURE GRANTS FOR COMMUNITIES IN

11 THE COUNTY.— 

12 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Agriculture 

13 (acting through the Under Secretary for Rural De14 velopment) (referred to in this subsection as the 

15 ‘‘Secretary’’) shall provide to eligible communities 

16 described in paragraph (2) grants for infrastructure 

17 projects in the eligible communities, including— 

18 (A) projects relating to drinking water and 

19 wastewater systems; and 

20 (B) projects for the improvement of 

21 broadband or cellular service. 

22 (2) ELIGIBLE COMMUNITY.—An eligible com23 munity referred to in paragraph (1) is a community 

24 that is— 


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1 (A) incorporated or recognized in the 

2 County land use plan or a regional land use 

3 plan; or 

4 (B) within tribal jurisdictional boundaries 

5 in the County. 

6 (3) APPLICATION.—To be eligible to receive a 

7 grant under this subsection an eligible community 

8 described in paragraph (2) shall submit to the Sec9 retary an application at such time, in such manner, 

10 and containing such information as the Secretary 

11 may require. 

12 (b) STUDY OF RURAL AIR SERVICE.— 

13 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 2 years after 

14 the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 

15 Transportation shall conduct a study of infrastruc16 ture needs in rural communities and improvements 

17 for rural air services and infrastructure that would 

18 support commercial, charter, or subscription air 

19 service at the Ontario Municipal Airport, which shall 

20 focus on— 

21 (A) the air service needs of the County and 

22 surrounding areas; 

23 (B) improving access for tourism to the 

24 County; 


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1 (C) supporting firefighting staging and de2 ployment; 

3 (D) supporting commercial, recreational, 

4 and agricultural needs; and 

5 (E) improving economic development op6 portunities in the County through transpor7 tation improvements. 

8 (2) REPORT.—On completion of the study 

9 under paragraph (1), the Secretary of Transpor10 tation shall submit to the appropriate committees of 

11 Congress a report that describes the results of the 

12 study. 

13 (c) CONSTRUCTION OF INNOVATIVE AGRICULTURAL

14 TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE.— 

15 (1) GRANT.—The Secretary of Transportation 

16 may provide to the State a grant for the construc17 tion or improvement of transportation systems facili18 tating the efficient movement of agricultural and 

19 other products through the Treasure Valley Inter20 modal Transfer Facility in the County. 

21 (2) APPLICATIONS.—To be eligible to receive a 

22 grant under this subsection, the State shall submit 

23 to the Secretary of Transportation an application at 

24 such time, in such manner, and containing such inVerDate Sep 11 2014 22:18 Aug 15, 2017 Jkt 069200 PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S1714.IS S1714

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1 formation as the Secretary of Transportation may 

2 require. 

3 (d) TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS.— 

4 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Transpor5 tation shall provide financial assistance to the Coun6 ty for the conduct of projects that would improve— 

7 (A) the downtown area of the Cities and 

8 surrounding communities; and 

9 (B) transportation within the Cities, in10 cluding— 

11 (i) projects relating to— 

12 (I) pedestrian, bicycle, and tran13 sit access in the Cities; and 

14 (II) safety corridors in the Cities; 

15 (ii) projects to improve access to, and 

16 improvements for, trails along waterfronts 

17 in the Cities; 

18 (iii) projects to ensure the availability 

19 of transit for senior citizens; and 

20 (iv) projects to improve the avail21 ability of transit for workers and individ22 uals needing transportation to healthcare 

23 appointments. 

24 (2) APPLICATIONS.—To be eligible to receive fi25 nancial assistance under this subsection, the County 


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1 shall submit to the Secretary of Transportation an 

2 application at such time, in such manner, and con3 taining such information as the Secretary of Trans4 portation may require. 

5 (e) LAKE OWYHEE ROAD TRANSPORTATION IM6 PROVEMENT PROJECTS.— 

7 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Transpor8 tation shall provide to the State grants to support 

9 transportation projects to improve— 

10 (A) the safety and security of the Owyhee 

11 Project; and 

12 (B) transportation access routes associated 

13 with the Owyhee Project. 

14 (2) APPLICATIONS.—To be eligible to receive a 

15 grant under this subsection, the State shall submit 

16 to the Secretary of Transportation an application at 

17 such time, in such manner, and containing such in18 formation as the Secretary of Transportation may 

19 require. 

20 SEC. 105. WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT TRAINING GRANTS. 

21 (a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

22 (1) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.— 

23 (A) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘‘eligible enti24 ty’’ means a public or private nonprofit agency 


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1 or organization or a consortium of public or pri2 vate nonprofit agencies or organizations. 

3 (B) INCLUSIONS.—The term ‘‘eligible enti4 ty’’ includes— 

5 (i) a community-based organization; 

6 (ii) a faith-based organization; 

7 (iii) an entity carrying out activities 

8 under title I of the Workforce Innovation 

9 and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3111 et 

10 seq.), such as a local board; 

11 (iv) a community action agency; 

12 (v) a State or local housing develop13 ment agency; 

14 (vi) an Indian tribe or other agency 

15 primarily serving members of Indian 

16 tribes; 

17 (vii) a community development cor18 poration; 

19 (viii) a State or local youth service or 

20 conservation corps; and 

21 (ix) any other entity eligible to provide 

22 education or employment training under a 

23 Federal program (other than the program 

24 carried out under this section). 


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1 (2) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 

2 the Secretary of Labor. 

3 (b) ESTABLISHMENT OF GRANT PROGRAM.—The 

4 Secretary shall establish within the Employment and 

5 Training Administration of the Department of Labor a 

6 program to provide to eligible entities grants for the con7 duct of workforce development training activities in the 

8 County. 

9 (c) PRIORITIES.—In providing grants under sub10 section (b), the Secretary shall give priority to activities 

11 relating to— 

12 (1) providing career technical education and 

13 training to youth under the Malheur County Poverty 

14 to Prosperity program; 

15 (2) training for adults that are reentering the 

16 workforce or seeking to improve career opportuni17 ties; and 

18 (3) training in agriculture and ranching for vet19 erans and youth, including the use of innovative ag20 ricultural practices and conservation techniques. 

21 (d) APPLICATIONS.—To be eligible to receive finan22 cial assistance under this section, an eligible entity shall 

23 submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in 

24 such manner, and containing such information as the Sec25 retary may require. 


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1 SEC. 106. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

2 There are authorized to be appropriated such sums 

3 as are necessary to carry out this title. 

4 TITLE II—REGIONAL 

5 COMMISSION STUDY 

6 SEC. 201. STUDY. 

7 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the 

8 date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture 

9 shall conduct a study on the need for an economic regional 

10 commission based on economic need in each of the fol11 lowing counties in the State: 

12 (1) Malheur County. 

13 (2) Klamath County. 

14 (3) Lake County. 

15 (4) Harney County. 

16 (5) Grant County. 

17 (6) Baker County. 

18 (7) Wheeler County. 

19 (b) REPORT.—The Secretary of Agriculture shall 

20 submit to Congress a report on the results of the study 

21 under subsection (a). 

22 TITLE III—SOUTHEASTERN 

23 OREGON WITHDRAWAL AREA 

24 SEC. 301. DEFINITIONS. 

25 In this title: 


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1 (1) ELIGIBLE FEDERAL LAND.—The term ‘‘eli2 gible Federal land’’ means— 

3 (A) any federally owned land or interest in 

4 the federally owned land depicted on the Map; 

5 and 

6 (B) any land or interest in land located 

7 within the withdrawal area that is acquired by 

8 the Federal Government after the date of enact9 ment of this Act. 

10 (2) MAP.—The term ‘‘Map’’ means the map en11 titled ‘‘Southeastern Oregon Mineral Withdrawal 

12 Map–Proposed’’ and dated June 7, 2016. 

13 SEC. 302. DESIGNATION OF SOUTHEASTERN OREGON WITH14 DRAWAL AREA. 

15 (a) IN GENERAL.—There is established the South16 eastern Oregon Withdrawal Area, comprising approxi17 mately 2,065,000 acres of eligible Federal land in the 

18 County, as generally depicted on the Map. 

19 (b) WITHDRAWAL.—Subject to valid existing rights, 

20 the eligible Federal land is withdrawn from all forms of— 

21 (1) entry, appropriation, and disposal under the 

22 public land laws; 

23 (2) location, entry, and patent under the mining 

24 laws; and 

25 (3) operation under the mineral leasing laws. 


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1 (c) AVAILABILITY OF MAP.—The Map shall be on file 

2 and available for inspection in the appropriate offices of 

3 the Director of the Bureau of Land Management. 

4 (d) EFFECT ON GEOTHERMAL LEASES.—This sec5 tion shall not apply to geothermal leases issued as of or 

6 after the date of enactment of this Act in the withdrawal 

7 area. 

8 SEC. 303. PURPOSES AND MANAGEMENT. 

9 (a) PURPOSES.—The purposes of the withdrawal area 

10 are— 

11 (1) to preserve the traditional uses and values 

12 of the communities in the vicinity of the withdrawal 

13 area; 

14 (2) to protect against the harmful effects min15 ing and oil and gas extraction could have on the 

16 unique and important resources of the region, par17 ticularly water quality, grazing, and other economic 

18 development opportunities; and 

19 (3)(A) to support the continuation of grazing in 

20 and around the withdrawal area; and 

21 (B) to recognize the significance of grazing in 

22 the economy, history, and culture of the County. 

23 (b) MAPS AND LEGAL DESCRIPTION.— 

24 (1) IN GENERAL.—As soon as practicable after 

25 the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary 


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1 shall file with the Committee on Energy and Natural 

2 Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Nat3 ural Resources of the House of Representatives a 

4 map and legal description of the withdrawal area. 

5 (2) FORCE AND EFFECT.—The map and legal 

6 description filed under paragraph (1) shall have the 

7 same force and effect as if included in this title, ex8 cept that the Secretary may correct clerical and ty9 pographical errors in the map and legal description. 

10 (3) AVAILABILITY.—The map and legal descrip11 tion filed under paragraph (1) shall be on file and 

12 available for public inspection in— 

13 (A) the office of the Director of the Bu14 reau of Land Management; and 

15 (B) the appropriate office of the Bureau of 

16 Land Management in the State. 

17 SEC. 304. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

18 There are authorized to be appropriated such sums 

19 as are necessary to carry out this title. 

20 SEC. 305. EFFECT OF TITLE. 

21 Nothing in this title restricts livestock grazing, law 

22 enforcement activities, wildfire management, hunting, 

23 fishing, fish and wildlife management activities, other au24 thorized uses, or Federal, State, or local agency authoriVerDate Sep 11 2014 22:18 Aug 15, 2017 Jkt 069200 PO 00000 Frm 00017 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S1714.IS S1714

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1 ties allowed on the date of enactment of this Act on the 

2 eligible Federal land in accordance with applicable law. 

Æ 


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