Grazing Improvement Act

To amend the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 to improve the management of grazing leases and permits, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Grazing Improvement Act 2. Terms of grazing permits and leases Section 402 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 ( 43 U.S.C. 1752 (1) by striking ten years 20 years (2) in subsection (b)— (A) by striking or (B) in paragraph (3), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; or (C) by adding at the end the following: (4) the initial environmental analysis under National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 ( 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq. ; and (3) after subsection (h), insert the following new subsection: (i) Only applicants, permittees and lessees whose interest in grazing livestock is directly affected by a final grazing decision may appeal the decision to an administrative law judge. . 3. Renewal, transfer, and reissuance of grazing permits and leases (a) Amendment Title IV of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 ( 43 U.S.C. 1751 et seq. 405. Renewal, transfer, and reissuance of grazing permits and leases (a) Definitions In this section: (1) Current grazing management The term current grazing management (2) Secretary concerned The term Secretary concerned (A) the Secretary of Agriculture, with respect to National Forest System land; and (B) the Secretary of the Interior, with respect to land under the jurisdiction of the Department of the Interior. (b) Renewal, Transfer, reissuance, and pending processing A grazing permit or lease issued by the Secretary of the Interior, or a grazing permit issued by the Secretary of Agriculture regarding National Forest System land, that expires, is transferred, or is waived shall be renewed or reissued under, as appropriate— (1) section 402; (2) section 19 of the Act of April 24, 1950 (commonly known as the Granger-Thye Act 16 U.S.C. 580l (3) title III of the Bankhead-Jones Farm Tenant Act ( 7 U.S.C. 1010 et seq. (4) section 510 the California Desert Protection Act of 1994 ( 16 U.S.C. 410aaa–50 (c) Terms; conditions The terms and conditions (except the termination date) contained in an expired, transferred, or waived permit or lease described in subsection (b) shall continue in effect under a renewed or reissued permit or lease until the date on which the Secretary concerned completes the processing of the renewed or reissued permit or lease that is the subject of the expired, transferred, or waived permit or lease, in compliance with each applicable law. (d) Cancellation; suspension; modification Notwithstanding subsection (c), a permit or lease described in subsection (b) may be cancelled, suspended, or modified in accordance with applicable law. (e) Renewal transfer reissuance after processing When the Secretary concerned has completed the processing of the renewed or reissued permit or lease that is the subject of the expired, transferred, or waived permit or lease, the Secretary concerned shall renew or reissue the permit or lease for a term of 20 years after completion of processing. (f) Compliance with National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 The renewal, reissuance, or transfer of a grazing permit or lease by the Secretary concerned shall be categorically excluded from the requirement to prepare an environmental assessment or an environmental impact statement if— (1) the decision continues to renew, reissue, or transfer the current grazing management of the allotment; (2) monitoring of the allotment has indicated that the current grazing management has met, or has satisfactorily progressed towards meeting, objectives contained in the land use and resource management plan of the allotment, as determined by the Secretary concerned; or (3) the decision is consistent with the policy of the Department of the Interior or the Department of Agriculture, as appropriate, regarding extraordinary circumstances. (g) Priority and timing for completing environmental analyses The Secretary concerned, in the sole discretion of the Secretary concerned, shall determine the priority and timing for completing each required environmental analysis regarding any grazing allotment, permit, or lease based on the environmental significance of the allotment, permit, or lease and available funding for that purpose. (h) NEPA exemptions The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) shall not apply to the following: (1) Crossing and trailing authorizations of domestic livestock. (2) Transfer of grazing preference. (3) Range improvements as defined under 43 U.S.C. 315c and 16 U.S.C. 580h. . (b) Table of contents The table of contents for the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 is amended by adding after the item for section 404, the following: Sec. 405. Renewal, transfer, and reissuance of grazing permits and leases. . July 9, 2013 Reported from the Committee on Natural Resources July 9, 2013 The Committee on Agriculture

Summary: Grazing Improvement Act - Amends the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (the Act) to double from 10 to 20 years the period of a term for grazing permits and leases for domestic livestock grazing on public lands or lands within national forests in 16 contiguous western states. Permits the issuance of permits and leases for a period shorter than 20 years (under current law, shorter than 10 years), including where the Secretary concerned determines that the initial environmental analysis under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) regarding a grazing allotment, permit, or lease has not been completed. Permits only applicants, permittees, and lessees whose interest in grazing livestock is directly affected by a final grazing decision to appeal such decision to an administrative law judge. Directs that grazing permits or leases issued by the Secretary of the Interior respecting lands under the jurisdiction of the Department of the Interior and grazing permits issued by the Secretary of Agriculture (USDA) respecting National Forest System lands that expire, are transferred, or are waived after this Act's enactment be renewed or reissued, as appropriate, under the Act, the Granger-Thye Act, the Bankhead-Jones Farm Tenant Act, or the California Desert Protection Act of 1994. Excludes the renewal, reissuance, or transfer of a grazing permit or lease by the Secretary concerned from the NEPA requirement to prepare an environmental analysis if: (1) such decision continues to renew, reissue, or transfer current grazing management of the allotment; (2) monitoring indicates that such management meets objectives contained in the land use and resource management plan of the allotment; or (3) the decision is consistent with the policy of the Department of the Interior or USDA regarding extraordinary circumstances. Gives the Secretary concerned the sole discretion to determine the priority and timing for completing each required environmental analysis regarding any grazing allotment, permit, or lease based on the environmental significance of such authorization and available funding. Makes NEPA inapplicable to domestic livestock crossing and trailing authorizations, transfers of grazing preference, and range improvements.