State Grazing Management Authority Act
Amends the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 to require the Bureau of Land Management, upon the request of a state governor, to enter into 20-year cooperative agreements providing for a state to manage grazing allotments on eligible federal land in that state. Defines "eligible federal land" as public land that is subject to a grazing permit or lease issued by the Bureau, excluding a unit of the National Wilderness Preservation System or an area of critical environmental concern.
Prohibits any state from managing more than two allotments at any one time unless waived by the Bureau.
Requires such a cooperative agreement to assign to the state the Bureau's responsibilities with respect to the grazing allotments managed under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, including the responsibility for determining whether the following actions for those allotments qualify for a categorical exclusion under such Act:
Requires a cooperative agreement to provide for the state to develop a process to resolve disputes relating to a decision by the state with respect to management of an allotment.
[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1792 Introduced in House (IH)]
114th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1792
To amend the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 to
authorize the Secretary of the Interior to enter into cooperative
agreements with States to provide for State management of grazing
permits and leases.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 14, 2015
Mr. Stewart introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Natural Resources
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 to
authorize the Secretary of the Interior to enter into cooperative
agreements with States to provide for State management of grazing
permits and leases.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``State Grazing Management Authority
Act''.
SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION OF COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE SECRETARY
OF THE INTERIOR AND THE STATES.
Section 402 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976
(43 U.S.C. 1752) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(k) Cooperative Agreements With States.--
``(1) Definitions.--In this subsection:
``(A) Cooperative agreement.--The term `cooperative
agreement' means a cooperative agreement entered into
under paragraph (2).
``(B) Eligible federal land.--
``(i) In general.--The term `eligible
Federal land' means public land that is subject
to a grazing permit or lease issued by the
Bureau.
``(ii) Exclusion.--The term `eligible
Federal land' does not include--
``(I) a unit of the National
Wilderness Preservation System; or
``(II) an area of critical
environmental concern.
``(C) Secretary.--The term `Secretary' means the
Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director
of the Bureau.
``(2) Authorization.--At the request of the Governor of a
State, the Secretary shall enter into a cooperative agreement
with the State to provide for State management of grazing
allotments on eligible Federal land in the State, subject to
this subsection.
``(3) Maximum number of grazing allotments.--
``(A) In general.--Except as provided in
subparagraph (B), not more than 2 grazing allotments
may be managed by any one State at any one time under
this subsection.
``(B) Waiver.--The Secretary may waive the
limitation under subparagraph (A) with respect to a
State if the Secretary determines a waiver to be
appropriate.
``(4) NEPA authority.--A cooperative agreement shall
include the assignment of the responsibilities of the Secretary
under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C.
4321 et seq.) to the State with respect to the grazing
allotments managed under that paragraph, including the
responsibility for determining whether the following actions
with respect to the grazing allotments qualify for a
categorical exclusion under that Act:
``(A) The conduct of vegetation projects.
``(B) The conduct of pinyon or juniper treatments.
``(C) Determinations with respect to the number of
permitted animal unit months.
``(5) Term.--
``(A) In general.--A cooperative agreement shall be
for a term of 20 years.
``(B) Renewal.--If the Secretary and State agree to
a renewal of a cooperative agreement, the cooperative
agreement may be renewed for an additional 20-year
term.
``(6) Applicable law.--In managing grazing allotments under
paragraph (2), a State shall be subject to--
``(A) this Act; and
``(B) any other applicable Federal law (including
regulations).
``(7) Resolution of disputes.--
``(A) Authority of the interior board of land
appeals.--Nothing in this subsection provides to the
Interior Board of Land Appeals authority to hear a case
with respect to a decision relating to a grazing
allotment managed by the State under paragraph (2).
``(B) State dispute resolution process.--A
cooperative agreement shall provide for the development
of a process by the State to resolve disputes relating
to a decision by the State with respect to a grazing
allotment managed by the State under the cooperative
agreement.''.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Lands.
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