Range Access Act

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. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Range Access Act 2. Target shooting ranges (a) Definition of designated shooting range In this section, the term designated shooting range (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 (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.

Summary: Range Access Act This bill directs the Departments of Agriculture and of the Interior to identify suitable locations for, and construct, shooting ranges on National Forest System land and public land administered by the Bureau of Land Management, respectively, for the public to use for recreational target shooting. Such shooting ranges may not charge a fee to use the range.