BLM Distributes Secure Rural Schools Payments to Western Oregon Counties
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The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced today that it has issued payment to 18 counties in western Oregon eligible under the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act extension. The funding includes approximately $35.5 million in monies for Fiscal Year 2015. In April 2015, the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act was reauthorized as a part of the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (Public Law 114-10). The new language in the reauthorization of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act extension locked-in the allocation elections made by counties for Fiscal Year 2013 for two fiscal years. The deadline to initiate a Title II or Title III project has been extended to September 30, 2017, and the deadline to obligate Title II or Title III funds has been extended to September 30, 2018. The $35.5 million figure is the sum of all titles paid to both Oregon and California (O&C) and Coos Bay Wagon Road counties. Of this amount approximately $3 million is available under Title II of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act. These funds can be used to implement special restoration projects on Federal lands approved by resource advisory committees. Over the years, Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act projects have provided trail maintenance, culvert replacement or removal, soil improvement, vegetation/density management, wildfire hazard reduction, stream channel enhancement, control of noxious and exotic weeds, and opportunities for youth training and employment.
“Through such collaborative decision-making provided by the advisory committees, the BLM has been able to better partner with corporations, state and local governments, and stakeholders to improve the condition of O&C lands and support the development of projects like community-based strategies for wildfire protection and wildlife habitat enhancements," said Oregon/Washington State Director Jamie Connell.
Additional information about the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act is available online at: blm.gov/or/rac/ctypaypayments.php
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.