Agreement for Retirement of 3,000 Acre Grazing Permit Near Bend

Oregon Public Broadcasting (“OPB”) News recently featured a brief story on the Oregon Natural Desert Association’s (“ONDA”) agreement with a rancher in the Bend, Oregon area.

The agreement allows for retirement of a nearly 3,000 acre federal grazing permit. Typically, the law requires retired permits to be reissued; however this particular allotment falls under a land management plan that provides for the voluntary retirement of grazing permits without re-issuance to the next preference holder. Thus, this grazing permit will remain retired for the duration of the management plan, which is about ten years.

This story evidences the continuing conflict that surrounds the use and management of Federal lands. While this story is about voluntary retirement of a grazing permit and not a cancellation, it highlights the influence that special interest groups are attempting to gain in this regulatory arena.

Click here to view the original OBP News story: http://news.opb.org/article/14357-onda-reaches-agreement-retire-3000-acre-grazing-permit-near-bend/