Malheur C.E.O. Group

(a) Definitions In this section: (1) Consensus The term consensus means a unanimous agreement by the voting members of the Malheur C.E.O. Group present and constituting a quorum at a regularly scheduled business meeting of the Malheur C.E.O. Group. (2) Federal agency (A) In general The term Federal agency means an agency or department of the Government of the United States. (B) Inclusions The term Federal agency includes— (i) the Bureau of Reclamation; (ii) the Bureau of Indian Affairs; (iii) the Bureau; (iv) the United States Fish and Wildlife Service; and (v) the Natural Resources Conservation Service. (3) Quorum The term quorum means 1 more than 1/2 of the voting members of the Malheur C.E.O. Group. (b) Establishment There is established the Malheur C.E.O. Group to assist in carrying out this section. (c) Membership (1) In general The Malheur C.E.O. Group shall consist of 18 members, to be appointed in accordance with paragraph (2), including— (A) 5 voting members who represent private interests, of whom— (i) 3 members represent livestock grazing interests, of whom— (I) 1 member resides in the northern 1/3 of the County; (II) 1 member resides in the center 1/3 of the County; and (III) 1 member resides in the southern 1/3 of the County; (ii) 1 member is in the recreation or tourism industry; and (iii) 1 member is from an applicable irrigation district; (B) 2 voting members who represent the environmental community, 1 of whom is based in the County; (C) 1 voting member who represents the hunting or fishing community; (D) 2 voting members who are representatives of Indian Tribes, of whom— (i) 1 member shall be a representative of the Burns Paiute Tribe; and (ii) 1 member shall be a representative of the Fort McDermitt Paiute and Shoshone Tribes; (E) 2 nonvoting members who are representatives of Federal agencies with authority and responsibility in the County and who shall provide technical assistance, 1 of whom shall represent the Bureau; (F) 2 nonvoting members who are representatives of State agencies with authority and responsibility in the County and who shall provide technical assistance, of whom— (i) 1 member shall be from the State Department of Fish and Wildlife; and (ii) 1 member shall be from the State Parks Department; and (G) 4 nonvoting members who are representatives of units of local government within the County and who shall provide technical assistance, 1 of whom shall be from the County weeds eradication department. (2) Appointment; term; vacancy (A) Appointment (i) Governmental agencies A member of the Malheur C.E.O. Group representing a Federal agency or State or local agency shall be appointed by the head of the applicable agency. (ii) Private Interests A member of the Malheur C.E.O. Group representing private interests shall be appointed by the applicable represented groups. (B) Term A member of the Malheur C.E.O. Group shall serve for a term of 3 years. (C) Vacancy A vacancy on the Malheur C.E.O. Group shall be filled in the manner described in subparagraph (A). (d) Projects (1) In general The Malheur C.E.O. Group shall propose eligible projects described in paragraph (2) on Federal land and water and non-Federal land and water in the County to be carried out by the Malheur C.E.O. Group or a third party, using funds provided by the Malheur C.E.O. Group, if a consensus of the Malheur C.E.O. Group approves the proposed eligible project. (2) Description of eligible projects An eligible project referred to in paragraph (1) is a project— (A) that complies with existing law (including regulations); and (B) relating to— (i) ecological restoration, including development, planning, and implementation; (ii) range improvements for the purpose of providing more efficient and effective ecologically beneficial management of domestic livestock, fish, wildlife, or habitat; (iii) invasive species management or eradication, including invasive weeds, vegetation, fish, or wildlife; (iv) restoration of springs and related water infrastructure to enhance the availability of sustainable flows of freshwater for livestock, fish, or wildlife; (v) conservation of cultural sites; (vi) economic development or recreation management; or (vii) research, monitoring, or analysis. (3) Requirement (A) In general In the case of an eligible project proposed under paragraph (1) that is to be carried out on Federal land or requires the use of Federal funds, the project may not be carried out without the approval of the head of the applicable Federal agency. (B) Failure to approve If an eligible project described in subparagraph (A) is not approved by the head of the applicable Federal agency, not later than 14 business days after the date on which the proposal is submitted to the head of the applicable Federal agency, the head of the Federal agency shall provide to the Malheur C.E.O. Group in writing a description of the reasons for not approving the proposed eligible project. (4) Failure to approve by consensus If an eligible project proposed under paragraph (1) is not agreed to by consensus after 3 votes are conducted by the Malheur C.E.O. Group, the proposed eligible project may be agreed to by a quorum of the members of the Malheur C.E.O. Group, subject to the limitations that— (A) the eligible project may not be carried out on Federal land; and (B) no Federal funds may be used for an eligible project that is agreed to in accordance with this paragraph. (5) Acceptance of donations The Malheur C.E.O. Group may— (A) accept and place into a trust fund any donations, grants, or other funds received by the Malheur C.E.O. Group; and (B) use amounts placed into a trust fund under paragraph (1) to carry out eligible projects approved in accordance with this section, including eligible projects carried out on Federal land or water or using Federal funds, if the project is approved by the head of the applicable Federal agency. (6) Cost-sharing requirement (A) In general The Federal share of the total cost of an eligible project carried out using amounts made available under subsection (i) shall be not more than 75 percent. (B) Form of non-Federal contribution The non-Federal contribution required under subparagraph (A) may be provided in the form of in-kind contributions. (7) Funding recommendations All funding recommendations developed by the Malheur C.E.O. Group shall be based on a consensus of the Malheur C.E.O. Group members. (e) Technical assistance Any Federal agency with authority and responsibility in the County shall, to the extent practicable, provide technical assistance to the Malheur C.E.O. Group on request of the Malheur C.E.O. Group. (f) Public notice and participation The Malheur C.E.O. Group shall conduct all meetings subject to applicable open meeting and public participation laws. (g) Priorities For purposes of approving eligible projects proposed under subsection (d)(1), the Malheur C.E.O. Group shall give priority to voluntary habitat, range, and ecosystem restoration projects focused on improving the long-term ecological health of the Federal land and natural bodies of water. (h) Additional projects To the extent permitted by applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations, Federal agencies may contribute to the implementation of projects recommended by the Malheur C.E.O. Group and approved by the Secretary. (i) Authorization of appropriations (1) In general There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section $1,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2036. (2) Maintenance and distribution Amounts made available under paragraph (1) shall be maintained and distributed by the Secretary. (3) Administrative expenses Not more than more than 5 percent of amounts made available under paragraph (1) for a fiscal year may be used for the administration of this Act. (4) Grants Of the amounts made available under paragraph (1), not more than 10 percent may be made available for a fiscal year to provide grants to the Malheur C.E.O. Group. (j) Effect (1) Existing activities The activities of the Malheur C.E.O. Group shall supplement, and not replace, existing activities to manage the natural resources of the County. (2) Legal rights, duties, or authorities Nothing in this section affects any legal right, duty, or authority of any person or Federal agency, including any member of the Malheur C.E.O. Group.