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(11) in cases in which ranching operations in-
volve the use of a term grazing permit issued by the
Secretary, it is essential for new term grazing per-
mits to be issued in a timely manner for financial
and other reasons.
(b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this Act is to ensure
that graving continues without interruption on National
Forest System land in a manner that provides long-term
protection of the environment and improvement of Na-
tional Forest System rangeland resources while also pro-
viding short-term certainty to holders of expiring term
grazing permits and purchasers of a permit holder’s per-
mitted livestock or base property.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) EXPIRING
TERM
GRAZING
PERMIT.—The
term ‘‘expiring term grazing permit’’ means a term
grazing permit—
(A) that expires in 1995 or 1996; or
(B) that expired in 1994 and was not re-
placed with a new term grazing permit solely
because the analysis required by the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C.
4321 et seq.) and other applicable laws has not
been completed.
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(2) FINAL AGENCY ACTION.—The term ‘‘final
agency action’’ means agency action with respect to
which all available administrative remedies have
been exhausted.
(3) TERM GRAZING PERMIT.—The term ‘‘term
grazing permit’’ means a term’’ grazing permit’’ or
grazing agreement issued by the Secretary under
section 402 of the Federal Land Policy and Manage-
ment Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1752), section 19 of
the Act entitled ‘‘An Act to facilitate and simplify
the work of the Forest Service, and for other pur-
poses’’, approved April 24, 1950 (commonly known
as the ‘‘Granger-Thye Act’’) (16 U.S.C. 580l), or
other law.
SEC. 3. ISSUANCE OF NEW TERM GRAZING PERMITS.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other law,
the Secretary shall issue a new term grazing permit with-
out regard to whether the analysis required by the Na-
tional Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321
et seq.) and other applicable laws has been completed, or
final agency action respecting the analysis has been
taken—
(1) to the holder of an expiring term grazing
permit; or
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(2) to the purchaser of a term grazing permit
holder’s permitted livestock or base property if—
(A) between January 1, 1995, and Decem-
ber 1, 1996, the holder has waived the term
grazing permit to the Secretary pursuant to
section 222.3(c)(1)(iv) of title 36, Code of Fed-
eral Regulations; and
(B) the purchaser of the term grazing per-
mit holder’s permitted livestock or base prop-
erty is eligible and qualified to hold a term
grazing permit.
(b) TERMS AND CONDITIONS.—Except as provided in
subsection (c)—
(1) a new term grazing permit under subsection
(a)(1) shall contain the same terms and conditions
as the expired term grazing permit; and
(2) a new term grazing permit under subsection
(a)(2) shall contain the same terms and conditions
as the waived permit.
(c) DURATION.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—A new term grazing permit
under subsection (a) shall expire on the earlier of—
(A) the date that is 3 years after the date
on which it is issued; or
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(B) the date on which final agency action
is taken with respect to the analysis required by
the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969
(42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and other applicable
laws.
(2) FINAL ACTION IN LESS THAN 3 YEARS.—If
final agency action is taken with respect to the anal-
ysis required by the National Environmental Policy
Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and other ap-
plicable laws before the date that is 3 years after the
date on which a new term grazing permit is issued
under subsection (a), the Secretary shall—
(A) cancel the new term grazing permit;
and
(B) if appropriate, issue a term grazing
permit for a term not to exceed 10 years under
terms and conditions as are necessary for the
proper administration of National Forest Sys-
tem rangeland resources.
(d) DATE OF ISSUANCE.—
(1) EXPIRATION ON OR BEFORE DATE OF EN-
ACTMENT.—In the case of an expiring term grazing
permit that has expired on or before the date of en-
actment of this Act, the Secretary shall issue a new
term grazing permit under subsection (a)(1) not