Rangeland Management

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA or Department) proposes to amend the regulations governing grazing and livestock use on the National Forest System to modernize grazing administration, improve clarity, codify existing policy, and expand opportunities for stewardship and access. The proposed amendments would update permit issuance, eligibility, and qualification provisions; establish a framework for adaptive response to drought, wildfire, and similar disturbance events; and expand authorities for stewardship-oriented livestock use, including adding the ability to implement stewardship projects (such as outcome-based grazing or targeted grazing) under a temporary grazing permit or livestock use permit. The proposed rule would revise grazing fee provisions to ensure consistent fee-setting across the national forests in the 16 contiguous Western States and the national grasslands, and establish a surcharge for authorized leasing of livestock by permittees. It would consolidate and renumber existing sections in subpart A for clarity and make conforming, technical, and administrative updates throughout part 222. The Department invites public comment on all aspects of the proposed rule.

This is a factual description of what was issued or decided, not an assessment of it.