Proposed Rules for grazing open for public comment

GRAZING COMMENTS: BLM/DEPT OF INTERIOR PROPOSED RULES


Federal Register, Vol. 68, No. 41, Monday, March 3, 2003
43 CFR Parts 4100, [WO-220-1020-24 1A], RIN: 1004-AD42

BLM ACTION Amendments to Grazing Administration Regulations—excluding Alaska

PUBLIC COMMENTS DUE BY May 2, 2003
SEND PUBLIC COMMENTS TO (include name and return address)

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Director (630)

Bureau of Land Management

Eastern States Office

7450 Boston Boulevard

Springfield VA 22153

ATTN: RIN 1004-AD42

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1620 L Street NW

Room 401

Washington DC 20036

EIS PUBLIC SCOPING MEETINGS

March 18, 2003, 6-10 pm


Holiday Inn Grand Montana, 550 Midland Road, Billings, MT 59101, Mary Apple, 406-896-5258

March 20, 2003, 6-10 pm
Reno Sparks Convention Ctr, 4590 S Virginia Str, Reno, NV 89502, JoLynn Worley, 775-861-6515

March 25, 2003, 6-10 pm
Hilton of Albuquerque, 1901 University Blvd, NE, Albuquerque, NM 87102, Kitty Mulkey 505-438-7511

March 27, 2003, 1-5 pm
Courtyard By Marriott (General Scott Rm), 1600 Rhode Island Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20036, Tom Gorey, 202-452-5137

Topics considered, include, but not limited to:

A. Definitions, revising or creating:

Active use
Grazing Preference or Preference

Authorized use
Livestock kind or kind of livestock

Base property
Monitoring

Grazing lease
Reserve common allotment

Grazing permit

B. Changing regulations to clarify current requirements and to allow better rangeland management and permit administration:

Clarifying the permit renewal performance review requirements when grazing permits are pledged as security for loans.
Clarifying who is qualified for public lands grazing use and who will receive preference for a grazing permit or lease.
Clarifying the provisions addressing grazing preference transfers.
Reinstating an earlier provision that BLM and the permit holder may share title to certain range improvements if the improvement was constructed under a Cooperative Range Improvement Agreement.
Clarifying that BLM will follow state law with respect to the acquisition of water rights.
Examining whether BLM should authorize temporarily locked gates on public lands in order to protect private land and improve livestock operations.
Clarifying which non-permit related violations BLM may take into account in penalizing a permittee.
Considering ways to streamline the grazing decision appeal process.
Extending the time period that BLM may approve nonuse of forage for 3 to 5 years for resource improvement, business, or personal needs.
C. Amendments related to changes in permitted use:

Creating provisions re-emphasizing consideration of social, economic, and cultural impact, in addition to the ecological impacts, of Federal actions to ensure compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act.
Requiring a permittee/lessee to apply to renew a permit or lease.
What criteria BLM will consider before approving increases in permitted use.
Considering whether to amend the provision stating when BLM will implement action that changes grazing management after determining that the allotments used by a permittee or lessee are not meeting or significantly progressing toward meeting land health standards.
D. New provisions:

Establishing and administering a new concept called “Reserve Common Allotments” (RCA). RCAs would be managed as reserve forage areas for use by permittees whose allotments are undergoing restoration treatments and require rest from grazing. RCA forage would be allocated on a temporary non-renewable basis to permittees participating in restoration on their allotments.
Adding a few schedule for preference transfers, crossing permits, applications for nonuse, and replacement/supplemental billing under existing service charge authority. Grazing fees will not be addressed in this rulemaking.

E. Correct typographical errors and wording errors to bring regs into compliance with Public Lands Council v. Babbitt.

IE—remove references to “conservation use”.

Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, online at:

http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2003/pdf/03-4933.pdf

For further info: Kenneth Visser, 202-452-7743

 

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