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What is House Bill H.R. 1792?

This bill would require the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to enter into 20-year cooperative agreements allowing states to manage grazing allotments on eligible federal land.

These agreements would be considered if a state’s governor asks for them. Lands that would be considered eligible under this bill include public lands covered by a grazing permits or leases issued by the BLM. However, areas of environmental concern and portions of the National Wilderness Preservation System would be excluded.

States would be prohibited from managing more than two allotments of public lands unless the BLM waives that limitation during the 20-year term of the program. Cooperative agreements between the BLM and states would assign the BLM’s responsibilities over grazing allotments (managed under the National Environmental Policy Act) to the states.

Any cooperative agreement would require states to develop a process to resolve disputes relating to a how states choose to manage allotments.

Impact

Ranchers who graze their animals on BLM lands, states interested in cooperative agreements with the BLM, state governors and federal land management agencies, environmentalists, recreational use of federal lands, and the BLM.

Cost of House Bill H.R. 1792

A CBO cost estimate is unavailable.

More Information

Of Note: The BLM and the grazing fees it charges the farmers and ranchers whose livestock graze on those lands have come under scrutiny following two highly publicized confrontations in Nevada and Oregon. These disputes centered around the grazing fees that the BLM was charging ranchers who graze their cattle on public lands. It also happens to include two members of the Bundy family, furthering their legacy of fighting with the federal government.

In-Depth: Sponsoring Rep. Chris Stewart (R-UT) introduced this bill to assist farmers and ranchers who graze livestock on BLM lands:

“Grazing is critical to communities all over rural Utah, and I believe our communities have the expertise and passion to best manage their own grazing lands. I’m doing all I can in Congress to protect Utah’s grazing rights, including pushing for this state grazing pilot program.”

Media:

Summary by Eric Revell
(Photo Credit: "Cliven Bundy (14720281294)" by Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America - Cliven Bundy. Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons)