Hearing of the Public Lands and Forest Subcommittee of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee - "Grazing Improvement Act of 2011" (S. 1129) and "Powell Shooting Range Land Conveyance Act" S. 2015

Statement

Today, at a Senate Public Lands and Forest Subcommittee hearing, U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-WY) spoke in favor of two important public lands bills: his "Grazing Improvement Act of 2011" (S. 1129) and Senator Mike Enzi's (R-WY) "Powell Shooting Range Land Conveyance Act" (S. 2015).

Both bills were introduced by Barrasso and Enzi during the 112th Congress. Wyoming Stock Growers Association Executive Vice President, Jim Magagna, also testified at today's hearing in support of the senators' legislation.

The Grazing Improvement Act of 2011 (S. 1129)

"Livestock grazing on public lands has a strong tradition in Wyoming and in the West. Ranchers are proud and responsible environmental stewards of the land. Yet, ranchers face too much uncertainty surrounding their grazing permits.

"Hard working ranching families are routinely attacked by extreme anti-grazing, pro-litigation groups. Uncertainty and litigation undermine all businesses, and it is especially true for rural ranching families.

"That is why I introduced the Grazing Improvement Act of 2011. For over a decade, agencies have relied on year-to-year appropriation rider language to reissue grazing permits. My bill codifies this important language.

"The BLM and Forest Service simply cannot keep up with the required NEPA analysis due to limited funding and a backlog of lawsuits by the anti-grazing, pro-litigation groups. This bill also provides the respective Secretaries with needed flexibility when reissuing grazing permits.

"Such reforms will provide greater certainty and stability to the livestock grazing community, the rural economies and wildlife they support, and our federal land agencies," said Barrasso.

S. 1129 helps ranching communities by preserving the use of livestock grazing permits. It allows the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and Forest Service to continue issuing grazing permits while required environmental analysis is pending.

Powell Shooting Range Land Conveyance Act (S. 2015)

"I am pleased the Committee is considering S. 2015, a bill Senator Enzi introduced and I have co-sponsored. This legislation would convey land currently used as a shooting range to the Powell Recreation District in the State of Wyoming.

"The land has been used as a public recreational shooting complex since 1980. Once conveyed, it will continue to operate as a public shooting range.

"The Powell Recreation District has been working to obtain this land since 2005, but has been unable to make progress due to questions of ownership.

"Senator Enzi and I have looked at every option. We believe the most appropriate option for moving forward is passage of S. 2015," said Barrasso.

S. 2015 would transfer land that currently houses a shooting range from the Bureau of Land Management to the Powell Recreation District which currently operates the site.

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