A public hearing will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, Dec. 1, at the Harney County Courthouse meeting room in Burns on a proposal to expand the Lone Pine Rangeland Association boundary within northern Harney County. Interested members of the public, including surrounding landowners, are invited to attend and comment.

Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) staff will provide background on the proposal and answer questions. A report of the public testimony will then be provided to the board for review prior to its consideration of the Lone Pine Rangeland Fire Protection Association proposal to expand at its next meeting.

If the proposal is ultimately approved by the board, the enlarged rangeland would be directed and managed by local rangeland owners. Associations prepare annual budgets for review by the board. Operating funds for association activities typically are derived from annual dues assessed by the association on its members. Grants provided through ODF may provide supplemental funding.

Rangeland fire protection associations were authorized by the Oregon Legislature in 1963 to fill a gap in protection for portions of the state that do not lie within a rural fire protection district or a forest protection district. There are currently 22 active Rangeland Fire Protection Associations, six of them in Harney County.

To ensure the broadest range of services to individuals with disabilities, lead-time is needed to make necessary arrangements. If special materials, services or assistance is required, please contact Marvin Vetter at the Oregon Department of Forestry office in Prineville at least 48 hours in advance, 541-447-5658 extension 244,text telephone (TTY) 800-467-4490 (outside Salem) and 503-945-7213 (in Salem).