§1904 Range Improvement Funding

Summary

Congress authorizes extra money for range improvements: $15,000,000 each year for fiscal years 1980 through 1982. For fiscal years 1983 through 1986 the yearly amount must be at least the same as 1982. For fiscal years 1987 through 1999 the yearly amount must be at least $5,000,000 more than the amount for fiscal year 1986. This money is extra to other range, wildlife, soil and water management funds and other range improvement funds. If money is authorized but not funded in a year, it can be appropriated in later years. At least 80% of the money must go to actual field work: repairing, maintaining, and building range improvements (including project layout, design, and supervision). No more than 15% may be used to hire and train staff needed to supervise and enforce land use and allotment management plans. The Secretary must distribute the funds after consulting grazing advisory boards, advisory councils, range users, and other interested parties, and should, when practical and cost-effective, give priority to cooperative agreements with range users for installing and maintaining improvements. Before spending any of the funds, the Secretary must prepare an environmental assessment for each project. A project can proceed unless the Secretary finds it would have a significant environmental impact, in which case an environmental impact statement under NEPA is required before spending the money.