Thank you to President Trump, Vice President Pence, Oregon Congressman Greg Walden, The Honorable Ryan Zinke and Acting Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt for restoring the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) grazing permits of the Hammond Family of Harney County, Oregon.
On January 2nd, 2019, prior to his departure, former Secretary of the Interior, Ryan Zinke remanded the matter of the Hammond family grazing permits to the BLM with instructions to renew within 30 days of the date of the decision. A summary of his decision and directive reads as follows:
“I find that the pardons constitute unique and important changed circumstances since the BLM made its decision. In light of the Grants of Executive Clemency, the years of imprisonment, and civil damages paid by the Hammonds, I find that it is consistent with the intent of the pardons- and in particular their reflection of the President’s judgment as to the seriousness of the Hammonds’ offenses – to renew the Hammonds’ permit for the duration of the term that would have commenced in 2014. The Hammonds’ continuance of grazing will depend on compliance with BLM’s grazing regulations.”
A number of organizations and individuals have been involved in obtaining the Grants of Executive Clemency as well as the restoration of BLM grazing permits for the Hammond Family. Forrest Lucas and Protect The Harvest are proud to have played a key role in this endeavor. Additional recognition and thanks go to the Oregon Cattlemen’s Association, the Oregon Farm Bureau Association, and the Haney County Stock Growers Association for their Amicus Curiae briefs filed on behalf of the Hammond family.
For more information about what happened to Oregon ranchers, Dwight and Steven Hammond and their family, visit our website: https://protecttheharvest.com/the-hammonds/
The Decision published by the Department of the Interior provides background, procedural history, and applicable law.
To view the Decision in its entirety, click here: https://protecttheharvest.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/2019-1-28-USDI-Secretary-Decision-Re-Hammond-Ranches-Inc.-v.-BLM.pdf
