Congressman Cliff Bentz introduced legislation on June 1 to grant Crook County, Oregon, a permanent right of way for constructing a new public access road in Juniper Canyon and to convey four Bureau of Land Management parcels to the county for establishing and maintaining fire safe zones.
The proposed legislation aims to enhance public safety, emergency response capabilities, evacuation access, and wildfire preparedness for residents in the Juniper Canyon area. Bentz said, “Central and Eastern Oregon communities continue to face growing wildfire threats and increasing concerns about emergency access. 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.”
Crook County Commissioner Seth Crawford said, “I would like to thank Congressman Cliff Bentz for working with Crook County to find land for an additional route out of Juniper Canyon. This is an important step in solving a longstanding issue that has weighed heavily on the people who live in Juniper Canyon.”
According to the bill text released by Bentz’s office, 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 building a new public roadway. The bill also directs that four approximately 40-acre Bureau of Land Management parcels be conveyed at no cost beyond conveyance expenses paid by the county. These parcels would be permanently dedicated as locations for wildfire preparedness and emergency response activities such as fuel break integration, firefighter operational safety staging areas, and other management tasks.
The bill has been referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Cliff Bentz is currently serving in Congress representing Oregon’s 2nd district after replacing Greg Walden in 2021; he previously served in both chambers of Oregon’s state legislature, according to his official biography.
