After Oregon cattleman Dwight Hammond Jr. received a pardon from President Trump in July and returned home to Burns, he said his main priority remained the same: working to restore his ranch’s grazing permit to keep the family operation viable.

On Monday afternoon, he learned he had reached the goal: In one of Interior Secretary Ryan K. Zinke’s last actions before resigning, he ordered the renewal of a 10-year grazing permit for Hammond Ranches Inc., run by the elder Hammond and son Steven Hammond.

“I find the pardons constitute unique and important changed circumstances since the BLM made its decision,’’ Zinke wrote in a decision dated Jan. 2. The order wasn’t sent out to attorneys involved until this week, likely due to the partial government shutdown.

Zinke ordered the U.S. Bureau of Land Management to renew the grazing permit through 2024.

READ: Zinke’s decision

In February 2014, the federal agency rejected the Hammonds’ renewal application, citing their criminal convictions for setting fire to public land.

They were convicted in 2012 of arson on Harney County land where they had grazing rights for their cattle. They were ordered back to prison in early 2016 to serve out five-year sentences in a case that incited right-wing militias and inspired the 41-day armed occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, which abuts the Hammond family ranch.

But on July 10, the Trump administration pardoned the father and son and they walked out of a federal prison in California about 6 1/2 hours later.

Zinke decided to renew the Hammonds’ permit for the duration of the term that would have begun in 2014, saying the move is “consistent with the intent of the pardons.’’

“The Hammonds’ continuance of grazing will depend on compliance with BLM’s grazing regulations,’’ Zinke wrote. “I do not find fault with BLM’s assessment of the law and facts in its 2014 decision and I reiterate BLM' s concern for human safety on public lands. The safety of our nation’s firefighters and others working and recreating on public lands remains paramount. I will ask BLM to keep the Office of the Secretary apprised of any permit compliance and human safety issues.’’

Dwight Hammond Jr. and his wife, Susie Hammond, were heading home from a doctor’s appointment about 2 p.m. Monday when they received a call from representatives of the Public Lands Council, Susie Hammond said. On Tuesday morning, she said she hadn’t yet seen the ruling in writing.

“They say the permit is renewed, but until we see something in writing that says, ‘yep, yep, it’s done,'" she’s not ready to celebrate, she said.

Getting the permit restored has been the central focus of the family, eager to turn cows out to graze this spring on more than 12,000 acres of land in the Diamond Valley of Steens Mountain, she said.

"It’s been awhile in coming, but I’m happy to get our permit back,'' Dwight Hammond Jr. said. "It is a relief.'' But he said he had concerns for other ranchers who have lost their grazing permits and aren’t as high profile as his family.

Their lawyer, Alan Schroeder, said he received the faxed order from the interior secretary’s office Monday afternoon.

“It’s one of the trilogy of matters the U.S. advanced against this family,’’ Schroeder said, citing the criminal case, a civil case and the revocation of the permit.

“This certainly concludes the permit matter,’’ he said. “It is significant. This gives them continued use of private and public land for grazing. It’s another very good day, though July 10th was the best. I’m pleased with Secretary Zinke’s statements in his reasoned decision. I’m pleased the agency found reason to appropriately and positively move forward.’’

In 2014, the United States and the Hammonds reached a civil settlement on the federal government’s claims for damages from the fires, with the Hammonds paying $400,000.

Zinke announced his resignation late last year amid multiple investigations tied to his real estate dealings in Montana and conduct while in office.

Chris Saeger, executive director of Western Values Project, condemned the permit renewal, saying it sets a "dangerous precedent by conceding to known anti-public land factions that may endanger public lands, managing agencies and employees.''

"By allowing these lawbreaking extremists back on public lands, the Trump administration is sending the message that politics will always trump our American birthright,'' Saeger said in a statement.

Both Hammonds were convicted of setting a fire in 2001, and the son was convicted of setting a second fire in 2006. A federal judge initially sentenced the father to three months in prison and the son to one year after they successfully argued that the five-year mandatory minimum term was unconstitutional. They served the time and were out of prison when prosecutors challenged the shorter terms before the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and won.

Dwight Hammond Jr. set a prescribed burn on about 300 acres of his own land that then traveled onto Bureau of Land Management property and burned an additional 139 acres, his lawyer wrote in a petition for clemency. The elder Hammond said he was trying to fend off invasive species. Prosecutors argued the fire also was to cover up illegal deer poaching and got out of control, placing firefighters who had to be airlifted out of the area in grave danger.

Susie and Dwight Hammond bought their ranch in 1964. They moved from Northern California, raised three boys, and acquired more land over time. All three sons have worked on the ranch, but their youngest, Steven, and his family have remained in recent years.

Hammond Ranches Inc. has operated on a combination of private and public land -- 12,872 acres of deeded territory and another 26,421 acres on grazing allotments before the federal government curtailed its permits.

-- Maxine Bernstein

Email at mbernstein@oregonian.com

Follow on Twitter @maxoregonian