Eastern Oregon Sheriffs continue to rally against proposed OSHA rules
By Joe Hathaway on Wednesday, July 3rd, 2024 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
EASTERN OREGON — The collective voices of local sheriffs are growing louder in opposition to newly proposed OSHA regulations, which they argue would devastate rural search and rescue (SAR) operations. Sheriffs from Baker, Union, and Malheur counties have joined the Oregon State Sheriffs’ Association (OSSA) in denouncing the regulations, stating they would impose insurmountable financial and operational burdens on volunteer-driven SAR programs.
The OSSA, representing all 36 county sheriffs in Oregon, expressed grave concerns about the proposed OSHA Emergency Response Standard. According to the association, the changes would mandate expensive equipment upgrades, additional training, and medical examinations that are beyond the reach of many rural counties.
“The proposed rule would effectively end these search and rescue operations across the state of Oregon,” the OSSA letter states. “This would be a catastrophe for those people camping, hunting, fishing, hiking, skiing, bicycling, or otherwise using the approximately 32 million acres of public lands in Oregon who are unfortunate enough to get injured, sick, lost, or otherwise need assistance.”
Union County Sheriff Cody Bowen and Baker County Sheriff Travis Ash are among the eastern Oregon sheriffs who endorsed the letter. They highlighted the dire challenges faced by rural SAR teams, which operate on minimal budgets and rely heavily on volunteers. Sheriff Bowen expressed strong opposition, stating, “This would devastate our ability to provide SAR operations here in Union County. I am 100% against the new proposed rules. If they are adopted, we will no longer have a SAR unit.”
Sheriff Ash echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the need for an exemption for rural SAR operations. “The proposed rule would create irreparable harm and would essentially dismantle search and rescue operations,” he said. “Communities, particularly those in rural areas, will suffer as a result of this.”
Malheur County Sheriff Travis Johnson also voiced concerns, citing the potential danger to public safety. “This rule change would be very problematic if it is implemented. The bottom line is it would endanger the general public when recreating in our areas as our response to their emergencies would be greatly diminished,” he said. “Small and rural SAR response would not be able to afford to meet the rule requirements due to cost and time constraints, and as such would likely dissolve.”
Johnson specifically highlighted the critical role of their rope rescue team, which has performed life-saving rescues in challenging terrains. “Without this team, I guess we would be left to leave people where they fall. Not a great option in my view,” he said.
The financial strain of the proposed OSHA rules is a central concern. Union County’s SAR program, for example, operates with 39 volunteers and one SAR coordinator on a budget of $10,350 for the fiscal year 2023/2024. Most of this budget is consumed by vehicle fuel and maintenance, leaving little for equipment and training. “The proposed rule will imperil the very existence of county SAR operations in Oregon,” the OSSA letter warns.
The OSSA’s letter urges OSHA to reconsider and exclude county SAR operations from the proposed rule, citing the increased risk to public safety if rural SAR teams are forced to disband due to unmanageable regulatory requirements.
“We respectfully request that you exclude county SAR operations from this proposed rule and gather relevant evidence before attempting to regulate in this area,” the letter concludes.
Elkhorn Media Group has reached out to OSHA for comment.
