Eastern Oregon Land Rights: Letting the State Maintain Ownership (H.R. 3366)

What is H.R. 3366?

(Updated November 14, 2014)

This bill deals with roughly 240 acres of land in eastern Oregon. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), in 1954, transferred title of ownership to the State of Oregon for the purpose of agricultural research. (Oregon State University currently owns the land and has built an ag research center on it.) This transfer included language that said if the land were used for anything other than such research, ownership would revert back to the BLM, and by extension the federal government. Hermiston, Oregon, the area’s largest city, is expanding, and wants to use the land for other purposes, including building a new water plant. This bill would remove the reversionary clause, allowing OSU—a State of Oregon entity—the ability to sell the land and/or move the ag research station. According to the Wallowa County Chieftain,

“OSU figures show the station supports nearly 500,000 acres of irrigated agriculture, and helped growers convert 30,000 acres to high-value crops in Umatilla and Morrow counties. That totals more than $50 million in economic returns.”

Argument in favor

A common-sense measure that creates both growth and jobs for the fastest-growing city in eastern Oregon. Supported by the mayor and county commissioner.

Argument opposed

The reversionary clause should not be taken out and the land should revert to being wild and/or federally-owned if Oregon State University does not need to use it.

Impact

If enacted, the bill would effectively cede any federal involvement with and jurisdiction over the acres in question.

Cost of H.R. 3366

The CBO reports that the measure would have no significant impact on the federal budget.

Additional Info

Of Note: