Oregon Public Broadcasting

A lawsuit threat from a central Oregon non-profit has forced a federal agency to suspend road construction in the Steens Mountain area. 

Instead, the Bureau of Land Management will sit down and discuss its plans.

The Oregon Natural Desert Association filed a lawsuit last week, when it discovered BLM was building roads in possible violation of plans governing the southeast Oregon wilderness area.

Desert association director, Brent Fenty says he wants federal land managers to answer three questions.

Brent Fenty: “One – expect them to explain how this happened; two – why they thought it was necessary to develop these roads; and three – how they expect to restore this area and ensure that there isn’t invasive weeds taking hold in this area.”

BLM officials acknowledge that some of the road work they did should not have been done, and won't be resumed.

BLM plans to bring in a review team to find out how the work was approved -- and what steps need to be taken to ensure improper construction doesn't happen again.