WASHINGTON, D.C.— Congressman Cliff Bentz (OR-02) introduced legislation to grant Crook County, Oregon, a permanent right of way for the construction of a new public access road in Juniper Canyon and convey four Bureau of Land Management parcels to the County for the establishment and maintenance of “fire safe zones”.
The legislation is intended to improve public safety, emergency response capabilities, evacuation access, and wildfire preparedness for residents in the Juniper Canyon area.
“Central and Eastern Oregon communities continue to face growing wildfire threats and increasing concerns about emergency access,” said Congressman Bentz. “This legislation gives Crook County the ability to create an essential evacuation route, strengthen firefighter access, and establish strategically located fire safe zones that can help protect lives, property, and critical infrastructure during wildfire events.”
“I would like to thank Congressman Cliff Bentz for working with Crook County to find land for an additional route out of Juniper Canyon,” said Crook County Commissioner Seth Crawford. “This is an important step in solving a longstanding issue that has weighed heavily on the people who live in Juniper Canyon.”
Under the bill, the Department of the Interior would grant Crook County an 80-foot-wide permanent right of way connecting Oregon Route 380 to Juniper Canyon Road for the construction of a new public roadway. The bill also directs the conveyance of four approximately 40-acre BLM parcels to the County at no cost to taxpayers beyond conveyance expenses paid by the County.
The conveyed parcels would be permanently dedicated for use as locations for wildfire preparedness and emergency response purposes, including fuel break integration, firefighter operational safety, staging, and emergency management activities.
The bill has been referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
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