Northeast Oregon Now - HAREC Bill Seen as Boost to Hermiston Development

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By: Northeast Oregon Now Staff

The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a plan Wednesday to place the 290 acres of land currently home to Oregon State University's Hermiston Agriculture Research and Experiment Center (HAREC) fully under local control. The Hermiston Reversionary Lands Act (H.R. 3366) will allow important research to continue and provide flexibility for future economic development in the area, according to the bill's author, Rep. Greg Walden (R-Hood River).

"This common-sense plan is a win for farming and jobs," Walden said. "By repealing an antiquated federal rule, this bill provides an opportunity to grow Hermiston's economy while allowing the flexibility needed for valuable, local agriculture research to continue. I'm pleased that it passed the House with such broad support. The Senate should take it up and pass it right away."

In 1954, the 290 acres near Hermiston was conveyed by the federal government to the state of Oregon for the creation of an agricultural experiment station. The federal government still holds mineral and reversionary interest in the property. Should any portion of the current research station property no longer be used for agricultural research purposes, the property would return to federal ownership.

Walden said the antiquated clause provides management challenges for the station and denies the flexibility needed for Oregon State to generate revenue from portions unsuited for agriculture research. For example, said Walden, it denies the university ability to sell the property and relocate the station out beyond city limits to an area better located for agriculture research as needed in the future. The clause also denies the local community the flexibility it needs to build the economy and provide jobs to meet the demands of the growing region.

Local leaders hailed passage of the plan.

"As an agricultural community, we depend on the OSU Hermiston experiment station to have the latest crop research and techniques to remain competitive, support our economy and grow jobs. We appreciate Congressman Walden working with growers here locally to make sure an obscure federal law does not endanger the future of the experiment station and our agricultural economy," said local farmer Bryan Wolfe, chairman of Hermiston Agricultural Research and Experiment Station Advisory Committee.

Hermiston Mayor Dave Drotzmann said Walden's bill will help pave the way for future development in Hermiston.
"The reversionary interest that the federal government maintains over the Hermiston experiment station deprives our community and OSU of the flexibility it needs to maximize the value of the property and the research done there," Drotzmann said. "As our city continues to rapidly expand around the station, the reversionary interest stands in the way of future development. We thank Congressman Walden for removing this barrier to economic growth."

OSU President Edward J. Ray also praised the bill.

"Oregon State University strongly endorses passage of H.R.3366," he said. "This will provide the flexibility needed to ensure that the station can continue to do research in support of the agricultural community, the needs of the city of Hermiston, the region and beyond, now and for generations to come."

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