March 18, 2025
Mr. Vasquez (for himself, Ms. Maloy, and Mr. Zinke) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
To allow holders of certain grazing permits to make minor range improvements and to require that the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior respond to requests for range improvements within 30 days, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Ranching Without Red Tape Act of 2025
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Sec. 2. Minor range improvements under USFS grazing permits
(a) Minor range improvements by permittees
Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall issue regulations allowing a permittee to carry out a minor range improvement on the lands with respect to which the permittee holds a grazing permit if—
(1)
the permittee notifies the applicable Forest Service district ranger at least 30 days prior to carrying out such minor range improvement; and
(2)
such applicable district ranger—
(A)
approves the minor range improvement; or
(B)
does not respond to the minor range improvement.
(b) Range improvements by the Secretary
The Secretary, acting through the applicable District Ranger, shall—
(1)
respond to a covered request not later than 30 days after the date on which such request is submitted; and
(2)
if such response confirms that the Secretary, acting through the applicable District Ranger, will carry out the range improvement requested—
(A)
notify the district office that serves the area in which such range improvement will occur; and
(B)
expedite the carrying out of such range improvement using any available administrative tools or authorities, including categorical exclusions.
(c) Definitions
In this section:
(1) CFR terms
The terms grazing permit, permittee, and range improvement have the meanings given those terms, respectively, in section 222.1 of title 36, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations).
(2) Covered request
The term covered request means a request submitted by a permittee to the Secretary requesting that the Secretary carry out a range improvement.
(3) Minor range improvement
The term minor range improvement includes improvements to existing fences and fence lines, wells, water pipelines, and stock tanks.
(4) Secretary
The term Secretary means the Secretary of Agriculture.
Sec. 3. Minor range improvements under BLM grazing permits
(a) Minor range improvements by grazing permit holders
Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall issue regulations allowing a grazing permit or lease holder to carry out a minor range improvement on the lands with respect to which the grazing permit or lease applies if—
(1)
the grazing permit or lease holder notifies the applicable Bureau of Land Management district or field manager at least 30 days prior to carrying out such minor range improvement; and
(2)
such applicable district or field manager—
(A)
approves the minor range improvement; or
(B)
does not respond to the minor range improvement.
(b) Range improvements by the Secretary
The Secretary, acting through the applicable State Director of the Bureau of Land Management, shall—
(1)
respond to a covered request not later than 30 days after the date on which such request is submitted; and
(2)
if such response confirms that the Secretary, acting through the applicable State Director of the Bureau of Land Management, will carry out the range improvement requested—
(A)
notify the State office that serves the area in which such range improvement will occur; and
(B)
expedite the carrying out of such range improvement using any available administrative tools or authorities, including categorical exclusions.
(c) Definitions
In this section:
(1) Covered request
The term covered request means a request submitted by a grazing permit holder to the Secretary requesting that the Secretary carry out a range improvement.
(2) Grazing permit or lease
The term grazing permit or lease means a grazing permit or lease described in section 4130.2 of title 43, Code of Federal Regulations (or success regulations).
(3) Minor range improvement
The term minor range improvement includes improvements to existing fences and fence lines, wells, water pipelines, and stock tanks.
(4) Range improvement
The term range improvement means a range improvement carried out pursuant to subpart 4120 of title 43, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations).
(5) Secretary
The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior.