Range Access Act

Subjects: Public Lands and Natural Resources, Firearms and explosives, Forests, forestry, trees, Outdoor recreation, Sports and recreation facilities


<html><body><pre>[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1614 Introduced in House (IH)]

&lt;DOC&gt;






118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 1614

 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

                             March 17, 2023

    Mr. Moore of Utah (for himself and Mr. Panetta) 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 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 Target Shooting Range.--In this section, the term 
``target shooting range'' means a developed and managed area that is 
authorized or operated by the Forest Service or the Bureau of Land 
Management specifically for the purposeful discharge by the public of 
legal firearms, firearms training, archery, or other associated 
activities.
    (b) Assessment; Identification of Target Shooting Range 
Locations.--
            (1) Assessment.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Secretary concerned shall make 
        available to the public a list that--
                    (A) identifies each National Forest and each Bureau 
                of Land Management district that has a target shooting 
                range that meets the requirements described in 
                paragraph (3)(B);
                    (B) identifies each National Forest and each Bureau 
                of Land Management district that does not have a target 
                shooting range that meets the requirements described in 
                paragraph (3)(B); and
                    (C) for each National Forest and each Bureau of 
                Land Management district identified under subparagraph 
                (B), provides a determination of whether applicable law 
                or the applicable land use plan prevents the 
                establishment of a target shooting range that meets the 
                requirements described in paragraph (3)(B).
            (2) Identification of target shooting range locations.--
                    (A) In general.--The Secretary concerned shall 
                identify at least 1 suitable location for a target 
                shooting range that meets the requirements described in 
                paragraph (3)(B) within each National Forest and each 
                Bureau of Land Management district with respect to 
                which the Secretary concerned has determined under 
                paragraph (1)(C) that the establishment of a target 
                shooting range is not prevented by applicable law or 
                the applicable land use plan.
                    (B) Requirements.--The Secretaries, in consultation 
                with the entities described in subsection (d), shall, 
                for purposes of identifying a suitable location for a 
                target shooting range under subparagraph (A)--
                            (i) consider the proximity of areas 
                        frequently used by recreational shooters;
                            (ii) ensure that the target shooting range 
                        would not adversely impact a shooting range 
                        operated or maintained by a non-Federal entity, 
                        including a shooting range located on private 
                        land; and
                            (iii) consider other nearby recreational 
                        uses to minimize potential conflict.
            (3) Establishment of new target shooting ranges.--
                    (A) In general.--Not later than 5 years after the 
                date of enactment of this Act, at 1 or more suitable 
                locations identified on each eligible National Forest 
                and each Bureau of Land Management district under 
                paragraph (2)(A), the Secretary concerned shall--
                            (i) subject to the availability of 
                        appropriations, construct a target shooting 
                        range that meets the requirements described in 
                        subparagraph (B) or modify an existing target 
                        shooting range to meet the requirements 
                        described in subparagraph (B); or
                            (ii) enter into an agreement with an entity 
                        described in subsection (d)(1), under which the 
                        entity shall establish or maintain a target 
                        shooting range that meets the requirements 
                        described in subparagraph (B).
                    (B) Requirements.--A target shooting range 
                established under this paragraph--
                            (i)(I) shall be able to accommodate rifles, 
                        pistols, and shotguns; and
                            (II) may accommodate archery;
                            (ii) shall include appropriate public 
                        safety designs and features, including--
                                    (I) significantly modified 
                                landscapes, including berms, buffer 
                                distances, or other public safety 
                                designs or features;
                                    (II) a designated firing line; and
                                    (III) benches;
                            (iii) may include--
                                    (I) shade structures;
                                    (II) trash containers;
                                    (III) restrooms; and
                                    (IV) any other features that the 
                                Secretary concerned determines to be 
                                necessary; and
                            (iv) may not require a user to pay a fee to 
                        use the target shooting range.
                    (C) Recreation and public purposes act.--For 
                purposes of subparagraph (A), the Secretary concerned 
                may consider a target shooting range that is located on 
                land transferred pursuant to the Act of June 14, 1926 
                (commonly known as the ``Recreation and Public Purposes 
                Act'') (44 Stat. 741, chapter 578; 43 U.S.C. 869 et 
                seq.), as a target shooting range that meets the 
                requirements described in subparagraph (B).
    (c) Restrictions.--
            (1) Management.--The management of a target shooting range 
        shall be subject to such conditions as the Secretary concerned 
        determines are necessary for the safe, responsible use of--
                    (A) the target shooting range; and
                    (B) the adjacent land and resources.
            (2) Closures.--Except in emergency situations, the 
        Secretary concerned shall seek to ensure that a target shooting 
        range that meets the requirements described in subsection 
        (b)(3)(B), 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 recreational 
        lands and waters administered by the Chief of the Forest 
        Service or the Director of the Bureau of Land Management to 
        recreational shooting, in accordance with section 4103 of the 
        John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation 
        Act (16 U.S.C. 7913).
    (d) Consultations.--
            (1) In general.--In carrying out this section, the 
        Secretaries shall consult, as applicable, with--
                    (A) local and Tribal governments;
                    (B) nonprofit or nongovernmental organizations, 
                including organizations that 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;
                    (C) State fish and wildlife agencies;
                    (D) shooting clubs;
                    (E) Federal advisory councils relating to hunting 
                and shooting sports;
                    (F) individuals or entities with authorized leases 
                or permits in an area under consideration for a target 
                shooting range;
                    (G) State and local offices of outdoor recreation;
                    (H) State and local public safety agencies; and
                    (I) the public.
            (2) Partnerships.--The Secretaries may--
                    (A) coordinate with an entity described in 
                paragraph (1) to assist with the construction, 
                modification, operation, or maintenance of a target 
                shooting range; and
                    (B) explore opportunities to leverage funding to 
                maximize non-Federal investment in the construction, 
                modification, operation, or maintenance of a target 
                shooting range.
    (e) Annual Reports.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of this Act and annually thereafter through fiscal year 2033, 
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.
    (f) Savings Clause.--Nothing in this section affects the authority 
of the Secretary concerned to administer a target shooting range that 
is in addition to the target shooting ranges that meet the requirements 
described in subsection (b)(3)(B) on Federal recreational lands and 
waters administered by the Secretary concerned.
                                 &lt;all&gt;
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