[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 9183 Introduced in House (IH)]
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117th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 9183
To facilitate the creation of designated shooting ranges on National
Forest System land and public land administered by the Bureau of Land
Management for the public to use for recreational target shooting, and
for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
October 14, 2022
Mr. Moore of Utah introduced the following bill; which was referred to
the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on
Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker,
in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the
jurisdiction of the committee concerned
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A BILL
To facilitate the creation of designated shooting ranges on National
Forest System land and public land administered by the Bureau of Land
Management for the public to use for recreational target shooting, 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 ``Range Access Act''.
SEC. 2. TARGET SHOOTING RANGES.
(a) Definition of Designated Shooting Range.--In this section, the
term ``designated shooting range'' means a developed and managed area
on Federal land that is designed and operated specifically for the
purposeful discharge of legal firearms, firearms training, archery, or
other associated activities.
(b) Identification of Designated Shooting Range.--
(1) In general.--The Secretaries shall identify a suitable
location for, and construct, designated shooting ranges on
National Forest System land and public land administered by the
Bureau of Land Management for the public to use for
recreational target shooting.
(2) Minimum number of ranges.--To the maximum extent
practicable--
(A) the Secretary of Agriculture shall ensure that
each National Forest has not fewer than 1 designated
shooting range; and
(B) the Secretary shall ensure each Bureau of Land
Management district has not fewer than 1 designated
shooting range.
(3) Requirements.--A designated shooting range under
paragraph (1)--
(A)(i) shall be able to accommodate rifles,
pistols, and shotguns; and
(ii) may accommodate archery;
(B) shall include--
(i) significantly modified landscapes,
including berms, buffer distances, or other
public safety designs or features;
(ii) a designated firing line; and
(iii) benches; and
(C) may include--
(i) shade structures;
(ii) trash containers;
(iii) restrooms; and
(iv) any other features that the Secretary
concerned determines to be necessary.
(c) Requirements.--
(1) Existing use.--The Secretaries, in cooperation with the
entities described in subsection (d), shall--
(A) consider the proximity of areas frequently used
by recreational shooters when identifying a suitable
location for a designated shooting range; and
(B) ensure a designated shooting range would not
impact a non-Federal target shooting range, including a
target shooting range located on private land.
(2) Closures.--Except in emergency situations, the
Secretary concerned shall seek to ensure that a designated
shooting range, or an equivalent shooting range adjacent to a
National Forest or Bureau of Land Management district, is
available to the public prior to closing Federal land to
recreational shooting.
(d) Cooperation.--In carrying out this section, the Secretaries
shall cooperate, as applicable, with--
(1) local and Tribal governments;
(2) nonprofit organizations;
(3) State fish and wildlife agencies;
(4) shooting clubs;
(5) Federal advisory councils relating to hunting and
shooting sports;
(6) nongovernmental organizations that, as of the date of
enactment of this Act, are signatories to the memorandum of
understanding entitled ``Federal Lands Hunting, Fishing, and
Shooting Sports Roundtable Memorandum of Understanding'' and
signed by the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management
on August 17, 2006;
(7) individuals or entities with authorized leases or
permits in an area under consideration for a designated
shooting range; and
(8) the public.
(e) Restrictions.--
(1) In general.--The management of a designated shooting
range shall be subject to such conditions as the Secretary
concerned determines are necessary for the safe, responsible
use of--
(A) the designated shooting range; and
(B) the adjacent resources.
(2) Fees.--The Secretary concerned may not require a user
to pay a fee to use a designated shooting range established
under this section.
(f) Annual Reports.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this Act and annually thereafter, the Secretaries shall
submit to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate
and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives
a report describing the progress made with respect to the
implementation of this section.
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