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[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3322 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
118th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 3322
To allow holders of certain grazing permits to make minor range
improvements and to require that the Secretary of Agriculture and the
Secretary of the Interior respond to requests for range improvements
within 30 days, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
November 15, 2023
Mr. Barrasso (for himself, Ms. Lummis, Mr. Risch, Mr. Daines, and Mr.
Lee) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred
to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To allow holders of certain grazing permits to make minor range
improvements and to require that the Secretary of Agriculture and the
Secretary of the Interior respond to requests for range improvements
within 30 days, and for other purposes.
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 ``Ranching Without Red Tape Act of
2023''.
SEC. 2. MINOR RANGE IMPROVEMENTS UNDER USFS GRAZING PERMITS.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) CFR terms.--The terms ``grazing permit'',
``permittee'', and ``range improvement'' have the meanings
given those terms, respectively, in section 222.1(b) of title
36, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations).
(2) Covered request.--The term ``covered request'' means a
request submitted by a permittee to the Secretary requesting
that the Secretary carry out a range improvement.
(3) Minor range improvement.--The term ``minor range
improvement'' includes improvements to existing fences and
fence lines, wells, water pipelines, and stock tanks.
(4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Agriculture.
(b) Minor Range Improvements by Permittees.--Not later than 1 year
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall issue
regulations allowing a permittee to carry out a minor range improvement
on the land with respect to which the permittee holds a grazing permit
if--
(1) the permittee notifies the applicable Forest Service
district ranger at least 30 days prior to carrying out such
minor range improvement; and
(2) such applicable district ranger--
(A) approves the minor range improvement; or
(B) does not respond to the notification.
(c) Range Improvements by the Secretary.--The Secretary, acting
through the applicable forest supervisor, shall--
(1) respond to a covered request not later than 30 days
after the date on which such covered request is submitted; and
(2) if such response confirms that the Secretary, acting
through the applicable forest supervisor, will carry out the
range improvement requested--
(A) notify the district office that serves the area
in which such range improvement will occur; and
(B) expedite the carrying out of such range
improvement using any available administrative tools or
authorities, including categorical exclusions.
SEC. 3. MINOR RANGE IMPROVEMENTS UNDER BLM GRAZING PERMITS.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Covered request.--The term ``covered request'' means a
request submitted by a grazing permit or lease holder to the
Secretary requesting that the Secretary carry out a range
improvement.
(2) Grazing permit or lease.--The term ``grazing permit or
lease'' means a grazing permit or lease described in section
4130.2 of title 43, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor
regulations).
(3) Minor range improvement.--The term ``minor range
improvement'' includes improvements to existing fences and
fence lines, wells, water pipelines, and stock tanks.
(4) Range improvement.--The term ``range improvement''
means a range improvement carried out pursuant to subpart 4120
of title 43, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor
regulations).
(5) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of the Interior.
(b) Minor Range Improvements by Grazing Permit Holders.--Not later
than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary
shall issue regulations allowing a grazing permit or lease holder to
carry out a minor range improvement on the land with respect to which
the grazing permit or lease applies if--
(1) the grazing permit or lease holder notifies the
applicable Bureau of Land Management district or field manager
at least 30 days prior to carrying out such minor range
improvement; and
(2) such applicable district or field manager--
(A) approves the minor range improvement; or
(B) does not respond to the notification.
(c) Range Improvements by the Secretary.--The Secretary, acting
through the applicable State Director of the Bureau of Land Management,
shall--
(1) respond to a covered request not later than 30 days
after the date on which such covered request is submitted; and
(2) if such response confirms that the Secretary, acting
through the applicable State Director of the Bureau of Land
Management, will carry out the range improvement requested--
(A) notify the State office that serves the area in
which such range improvement will occur; and
(B) expedite the carrying out of such range
improvement using any available administrative tools or
authorities, including categorical exclusions.
<all>
Introduced in Senate
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 118-394.
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