Malheur Community Empowerment for the Owyhee Act
What changed between versions
The entire Section 6 (Economic development) was removed, eliminating $12 million in authorized appropriations for FY2024 that covered Owyhee Dam Road safety upgrades ($6M), scenic loop improvements, state park feasibility studies, a gateway marketing study, Jordan Valley airstrip improvements, and wildlife recreation projects.
The authorization of appropriations for land conveyances to the Burns Paiute Tribe was changed from fiscal year 2024 to fiscal year 2025. A separate payment-in-lieu-of-taxes eligibility provision and a standalone appropriation authorization for the Jonesboro Ranch conveyance were removed.
Total wilderness designation acreage increased from approximately 1,097,731 acres to 1,102,393 acres. New wilderness areas were added (Black Butte, Deadman Butte, North Fork Owyhee, Three Fingers Rock North, Camp Creek), some were renamed (Cairn C became Mahogany Butte, Twin Butte was repositioned in the list), and individual acreage figures were adjusted for many areas.
The wilderness study area release provision was narrowed from a general finding about any WSA not depicted on the map to specifically naming three areas: Clarks Butte, Saddle Butte, and Bowden Hills Wilderness Study Areas.
Grazing flexibility notice requirements were tightened: permittees must now provide written notice at least 2 business days BEFORE an adjustment (previously they could notify before or after). The trigger for interim variances was raised from 'changes in weather' to 'significant changes in weather.' Water structure adjustments are now subject to applicable laws.
Eligible projects for the Malheur C.E.O. Group must now comply with existing law (including regulations), and a new project category was added: research, monitoring, or analysis. Federal agency technical assistance is now qualified by 'to the extent practicable.'
The Malheur C.E.O. Group is now statutorily established (rather than recognized as pre-existing), fixed at 18 members, with private interest members appointed by the represented groups rather than per the group's own bylaws. Consensus and quorum now apply only to 'voting members.'
The definition of 'Commissioner' (Commissioner of Reclamation) and 'loop road' were removed from the definitions section, consistent with the removal of the economic development section. The Malheur C.E.O. Group definition was changed from 'described in' to 'established by' section 4(b).
All map references were updated from a single 'Proposed Wilderness Malheur County' map dated June 7, 2023 to multiple specific maps dated December 12, 2023 (Trout Creek-Oregon Canyon Group, Upper Owyhee, Lower Owyhee, Camp Creek Group, and Land into Trust and Co-Stewardship Castle Rock Group). The tribal name was corrected to 'Fort McDermitt Paiute and Shoshone Tribes' (plural).
