[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6441 Introduced in House (IH)]
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118th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 6441
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 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
November 15, 2023
Mr. Vasquez (for himself, Mr. Curtis, and Mr. Duarte) 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
_______________________________________________________________________
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) Minor Range Improvements by Permittees.--Not later than 1 year
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall issue
regulations allowing a permittee to carry out a minor range improvement
on the lands 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 minor range
improvement.
(b) 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 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.
(c) 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 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.
SEC. 3. MINOR RANGE IMPROVEMENTS UNDER BLM GRAZING PERMITS.
(a) Minor Range Improvements by Grazing Permit Holders.--Not later
than 1 year after the date of the 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 lands 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 minor range
improvement.
(b) 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 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.
(c) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Covered request.--The term ``covered request'' means a
request submitted by a grazing permit 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 success
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.
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