“A bill to amend the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 to improve the management of grazing permits and leases, and for other purposes.”
No CRS summary available for this bill.
This section establishes authority for the Secretaries of Agriculture (for National Forest System lands) and the Interior (for public lands) to temporarily authorize holders of grazing permits or leases to use vacant grazing allotments when the holders' assigned allotments are unusable due to unforeseen natural events or disasters (e.g., extreme weather, drought, wildfire, infestation, or blight), provided the vacant allotment is appropriate for such use. In doing so, the Secretaries must base terms and conditions on prior allotment terms (or adjacent allotments if unavailable), local ecological conditions, prior agency agreements, and other factors; allow temporary rangeland improvements (e.g., portable corrals, fencing); and coordinate across agencies to the maximum extent practicable. (Grazing allotments are designated areas of federal land where permit holders graze livestock under term-limited permits or leases.) The temporary use does not alter the holder's original permit terms, preferences, or future authorizations; its duration is determined by allotment conditions and recovery time; the Secretaries must issue implementing guidelines within one year of enactment; and they must periodically evaluate land health of vacant allotments.