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Oregon Recreation Enhancement Act
3/12/2024, 1:36 PM
Summary of Bill S 440
Specifically, the bill aims to protect and preserve the natural beauty and resources of Oregon by designating over 200,000 acres of land as wilderness areas. These areas would be off-limits to development and would be preserved for future generations to enjoy.
Additionally, the bill seeks to designate certain rivers in Oregon as wild and scenic rivers, providing further protection for these important waterways. This designation would help to ensure that these rivers remain free-flowing and undeveloped, preserving their natural beauty and ecological value. Overall, the Oregon Recreation Enhancement Act is aimed at promoting outdoor recreation and conservation in Oregon, while also protecting the state's natural resources for future generations. It is currently being debated in Congress and has garnered support from environmental and outdoor recreation groups.
Congressional Summary of S 440
Oregon Recreation Enhancement Act
This bill designates specified Bureau of Land Management land in Oregon as the Rogue Canyon and Molalla Recreation Areas and adds approximately 59,512 acres of federal land to the Wild Rogue Wilderness.
The Department of the Interior, for public land, and the Department of Agriculture (USDA), for National Forest System land, must conduct a wildfire risk assessment that covers the recreation areas, the Wild Rogue Wilderness, and any adjacent federal land. Interior and USDA must develop plans to mitigate wildfire risk to communities located near the land.
No new permanent or temporary roads shall be constructed within the recreation areas except as necessary for public safety or to implement the wildfire mitigation plan.
USDA may take measures within such wilderness additions as are necessary to control fire, insects, and disease.
All federal surface and subsurface land within the recreation areas or the wilderness additions is withdrawn from
- entry, appropriation, or disposal under the public land laws;
- location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; and
- disposition under all laws pertaining to mineral leasing, geothermal leasing, or mineral materials.
The bill also withdraws identified federally owned lands and interests within the Hunter Creek, Pistol River Headwaters Withdrawal Proposal, or the Rough and Ready and Baldface Creeks Mineral Withdrawal Proposal in Curry County and Josephine County, Oregon, and any land or interest in land located within such withdrawal proposals that is acquired by the federal government.
