S. 937 — Introduced in Senate

II 114th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 937 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES April 14, 2015 Mr. Hatch introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources A BILL To amend the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to enter into cooperative agreements with States to provide for State management of grazing permits and leases. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the State Grazing Management Authority Act. 2. Authorization of cooperative agreements between the Secretary of the Interior and the States Section 402 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1752) is amended by adding at the end the following: (k) Cooperative agreements with States (1) Definitions In this subsection: (A) Cooperative agreement The term cooperative agreement means a cooperative agreement entered into under paragraph (2). (B) Eligible federal land (i) In general The term eligible Federal land means public land that is subject to a grazing permit or lease issued by the Bureau. (ii) Exclusion The term eligible Federal land does not include— (I) a unit of the National Wilderness Preservation System; or (II) an area of critical environmental concern. (C) Secretary The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the Bureau. (2) Authorization At the request of the Governor of a State, the Secretary shall enter into a cooperative agreement with the State to provide for State management of grazing allotments on eligible Federal land in the State, subject to this subsection. (3) Maximum number of grazing allotments (A) In general Except as provided in subparagraph (B), not more than 2 grazing allotments may be managed by any one State at any one time under this subsection. (B) Waiver The Secretary may waive the limitation under subparagraph (A) with respect to a State if the Secretary determines a waiver to be appropriate. (4) NEPA authority A cooperative agreement shall include the assignment of the responsibilities of the Secretary under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) to the State with respect to the grazing allotments managed under that paragraph, including the responsibility for determining whether the following actions with respect to the grazing allotments qualify for a categorical exclusion under that Act: (A) The conduct of vegetation projects. (B) The conduct of pinyon or juniper treatments. (C) Determinations with respect to the number of permitted animal unit months. (5) Term (A) In general A cooperative agreement shall be for a term of 20 years. (B) Renewal If the Secretary and State agree to a renewal of a cooperative agreement, the cooperative agreement may be renewed for an additional 20-year term. (6) Applicable law In managing grazing allotments under paragraph (2), a State shall be subject to— (A) this Act; and (B) any other applicable Federal law (including regulations). (7) Resolution of disputes (A) Authority of the Interior Board of Land Appeals Nothing in this subsection provides to the Interior Board of Land Appeals authority to hear a case with respect to a decision relating to a grazing allotment managed by the State under paragraph (2). (B) State dispute resolution process A cooperative agreement shall provide for the development of a process by the State to resolve disputes relating to a decision by the State with respect to a grazing allotment managed by the State under the cooperative agreement. .