Range Access Act
Bill: H.R.9183 | Sponsor: Rep. Moore, Blake D. (R-UT)
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources

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.

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 Designated Shooting Range.--In this section, the 
term ``designated shooting range'' means a developed and managed area 
on Federal land that is designed and operated specifically for the 
purposeful discharge of legal firearms, firearms training, archery, or 
other associated activities.
    (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'' and 
        signed by the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management 
        on August 17, 2006;
            (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.
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