,,ii #aacth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #agj ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,january #bi1 #bjac ,ms4 ,murkowski 7for herself and ,mr4 ,manchin7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,energy and ,natural ,resources ,a ,,bill ,to recognize the heritage of recreational fishing1 hunting1 and recreational shooting on ,federal public land and ensure continued opportunities for those activities4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,recreational ,fishing and ,hunting ,heritage and ,opportunities ,act4 #b4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,federal public land 7,a7 ,in general ,except as provided in subparagraph 7,b71 the term ,federal public land means any land or water that is-- 7i7 owned by the ,united ,states2 and 7ii7 managed by a ,federal agency 7including the ,department of the ,interior and the ,forest ,service7 for purposes that include the conservation of natural resources4 7,b7 ,exclusions ,the term ,federal public land does not include-- 7i7 land or water held or managed in trust for the benefit of ,indians or other ,native ,americans2 7ii7 land or water managed by the ,director of the ,national ,park ,service or the ,director of the ,united ,states ,fish and ,wildlife ,service2 7iii7 fish hatcheries2 or 7iv7 conservation easements on private land4 7#b7 ,hunting 7,a7 ,in general ,except as provided in subparagraph 7,b71 the term hunting means use of a firearm1 bow1 or other authorized means in the lawful-- 7i7 pursuit1 shooting1 capture1 collection1 trapping1 or killing of wildlife2 or 7ii7 attempt to pursue1 shoot1 capture1 collect1 trap1 or kill wildlife4 7,b7 ,exclusion ,the term hunting does not include the use of skilled volunteers to cull excess animals 7as defined by other ,federal law74 7#c7 ,recreational fishing ,the term recreational fishing means-- 7,a7 an activity for sport or for pleasure that involves-- 7i7 the lawful catching1 taking1 or harvesting of fish2 or 7ii7 the lawful attempted catching1 taking1 or harvesting of fish2 or 7,b7 any other activity for sport or pleasure that can reasonably be expected to result in the lawful catching1 taking1 or harvesting of fish4 7#d7 ,recreational shooting ,the term recreational shooting means any form of sport1 training1 competition1 or pastime1 whether formal or informal1 that involves the discharge of a rifle1 handgun1 or shotgun1 or the use of a bow and arrow4 #c4 ,recreational fishing1 hunting1 and recreational shooting 7a7 ,in general ,subject to valid existing rights1 and in cooperation with the respective ,state and fish and wildlife agency1 a ,federal public land management official shall exercise the authority of the official under existing law 7including provisions regarding land use planning7 to facilitate use of and access to ,federal public land for recreational fishing1 hunting1 and recreational shooting except as limited by-- 7#a7 any law that authorizes action or withholding action for reasons of national security1 public safety1 or resource conservation2 7#b7 any other ,federal law that precludes recreational fishing1 hunting1 or recreational shooting on specific ,federal public land or water or units of ,federal public land2 and 7#c7 discretionary limitations on recreational fishing1 hunting1 and recreational shooting determined to be necessary and reasonable as supported by the best scientific evidence and advanced through a transparent public process4 7b7 ,management ,consistent with subsection 7a71 the head of each ,federal public land management agency shall exercise the land management discretion of the head-- 7#a7 in a manner that supports and facilitates recreational fishing1 hunting1 and recreational shooting opportunities2 7#b7 to the extent authorized under applicable ,state law2 and 7#c7 in accordance with applicable ,federal law4 7c7 ,planning 7#a7 ,effects of plans and activities 7,a7 ,evaluation of effects on opportunities to engage in recreational fishing1 hunting1 or recreational shooting ,federal public land planning documents 7including land resources management plans1 resource management plans1 travel management plans1 and energy development plans7 shall include a specific evaluation of the effects of the plans on opportunities to engage in recreational fishing1 hunting1 or recreational shooting4 7,b7 ,other activity not considered 7i7 ,in general ,federal public land management officials shall not be required to consider the existence or availability of recreational fishing1 hunting1 or recreational shooting opportunities on private or public land that is located adjacent to1 or in the vicinity of1 ,federal public land for purposes of-- 7,i7 planning for or determining which units of ,federal public land are open for recreational fishing1 hunting1 or recreational shooting2 or 7,,ii7 setting the levels of use for recreational fishing1 hunting1 or recreational shooting on ,federal public land4 7ii7 ,enhanced opportunities ,federal public land management officials may consider the opportunities described in clause 7i7 if the combination of those opportunities would enhance the recreational fishing1 hunting1 or shooting opportunities available to the public4 7#b7 ,use of volunteers ,if hunting is prohibited by law1 all ,federal public land planning document described in paragraph 7#a77;,a7 of an agency shall1 after appropriate coordination with ,state fish and wildlife agencies1 allow the participation of skilled volunteers in the culling and other management of wildlife populations on ,federal public land unless the head of the agency demonstrates1 based on the best scientific data available or applicable ,federal law1 why skilled volunteers should not be used to control overpopulation of wildlife on the land that is the subject of the planning document4 7d7 ,bureau of land management and forest service land 7#a7 ,land open 7,a7 ,in general ,land under the jurisdiction of the ,bureau of ,land ,management or the ,forest ,service 7including a component of the ,national ,wilderness ,preservation ,system1 land designated as a wilderness study area or administratively classified as wilderness eligible or suitable1 and primitive or semiprimitive areas1 but excluding land on the outer ,continental ,shelf7 shall be open to recreational fishing1 hunting1 and recreational shooting unless the managing ,federal public land agency acts to close the land to such activity4 7,b7 ,motorized access ,nothing in this paragraph authorizes or requires motorized access or the use of motorized vehicles for recreational fishing1 hunting1 or recreational shooting purposes within land designated as a wilderness study area or administratively classified as wilderness eligible or suitable4 7#b7 ,closure or restriction ,land described in paragraph 7#a7 may be subject to closures or restrictions if determined by the head of the agency to be necessary and reasonable and supported by facts and evidence for purposes including resource conservation1 public safety1 energy or mineral production1 energy generation or transmission infrastructure1 water supply facilities1 protection of other permittees1 protection of private property rights or interests1 national security1 or compliance with other law1 as determined appropriate by the ,director of the ,bureau of ,land ,management or the ,chief of the ,forest ,service1 as applicable4 7#c7 ,shooting ranges 7,a7 ,in general ,except as provided in subparagraph 7,c71 the head of each ,federal public land agency may use the authorities of the head1 in a manner consistent with this ,act and other applicable law-- 7i7 to lease or permit use of land under the jurisdiction of the head for shooting ranges2 and 7ii7 to designate specific land under the jurisdiction of the head for recreational shooting activities4 7,b7 ,limitation on liability ,any designation under subparagraph 7,a77ii7 shall not subject the ,united ,states to any civil action or claim for monetary damages for injury or loss of property or personal injury or death caused by any recreational shooting activity occurring at or on the designated land4 7,c7 ,exception ,the head of each ,federal public land agency shall not lease or permit use of ,federal public land for shooting ranges or designate land for recreational shooting activities within including a component of the ,national ,wilderness ,preservation ,system1 land designated as a wilderness study area or administratively classified as wilderness eligible or suitable1 and primitive or semiprimitive areas4 7e7 ,report ,not later than ,october #a of every other year1 beginning with the second ,october #a after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the head of each ,federal public land agency who has authority to manage ,federal public land on which recreational fishing1 hunting1 or recreational shooting occurs shall submit to the ,committee on ,natural ,resources of the ,house of ,representatives and the ,committee on ,energy and ,natural ,resources of the ,senate a report that describes-- 7#a7 any ,federal public land administered by the agency head that was closed to recreational fishing1 hunting1 or recreational shooting at any time during the preceding year2 and 7#b7 the reason for the closure4 7f7 ,closures or significant restrictions of #a1bhj or more acres 7#a7 ,in general ,other than closures established or prescribed by land planning actions referred to in subsection 7d77#b7 or emergency closures described in paragraph 7#c71 a permanent or temporary withdrawal1 change of classification1 or change of management status of ,federal public land or water that effectively closes or significantly restricts #a1bhj or more contiguous acres of ,federal public land or water to access or use for recreational fishing or hunting or activities relating to fishing or hunting shall take effect only if1 before the date of withdrawal or change1 the head of the ,federal public land agency that has jurisdiction over the ,federal public land or water-- 7,a7 publishes appropriate notice of the withdrawal or change1 respectively2 7,b7 demonstrates that coordination has occurred with a ,state fish and wildlife agency2 and 7,c7 submits to the ,committee on ,natural ,resources of the ,house of ,representatives and the ,committee on ,energy and ,natural ,resources of the ,senate written notice of the withdrawal or change1 respectively4 7#b7 ,aggregate or cumulative effects ,if the aggregate or cumulative effect of separate withdrawals or changes effectively closes or significant restrictions affects #a1bhj or more acres of land or water1 the withdrawals and changes shall be treated as a single withdrawal or change for purposes of paragraph 7#a74 7#c7 ,emergency closures 7,a7 ,in general ,nothing in this ,act prohibits a ,federal public land management agency from establishing or implementing emergency closures or restrictions of the smallest practicable area of ,federal public land to provide for public safety1 resource conservation1 national security1 or other purposes authorized by law4 7,b7 ,termination ,an emergency closure under subparagraph 7,a7 shall terminate after a reasonable period of time unless the temporary closure is converted to a permanent closure consistent with this ,act4 7g7 ,no priority ,nothing in this ,act requires a ,federal agency to give preference to recreational fishing1 hunting1 or recreational shooting over other uses of ,federal public land or over land or water management priorities established by other ,federal law4 7h7 ,consultation with councils ,in carrying out this ,act1 the heads of ,federal public land agencies shall consult with the appropriate advisory councils established under ,executive ,order #abifb 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #ahja note2 relating to recreational fisheries7 and ,executive ,order #acddc 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #ffa note2 relating to facilitation of hunting heritage and wildlife conservation74 7i7 ,authority of states 7#a7 ,in general ,nothing in this ,act interferes with1 diminishes1 or conflicts with the authority1 jurisdiction1 or responsibility of any ,state to manage1 control1 or regulate fish and wildlife under ,state law 7including regulations7 on land or water within the ,state1 including on ,federal public land4 7#b7 ,federal licenses 7,a7 ,in general ,except as provided in subparagraph 7,b71 nothing in this section authorizes the head of a ,federal public land agency head to require a license1 fee1 or permit to fish1 hunt1 or trap on land or water in a ,state1 including on ,federal public land in the ,state4 7,b7 ,migratory bird stamps ,this paragraph shall not affect any migratory bird stamp requirement of the ,migratory ,bird ,hunting and ,conservation ,stamp ,act 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #gah;a et seq474