January 28, 2003

By Jeff Eisenberg

202-347-0228

jeisenberg@beef.org

http://www.Beef.org

1. Senate Votes to Help Ranchers

The Senate approved an omnibus appropriations bill on January 23, 2003, which includes language ensuring that grazing permits expiring in Fiscal Year 2003 will be renewed regardless whether associated environmental documentation is complete. House and Senate Appropriations Committees are not expected to complete conference on their two versions of the bill until mid-February. We are optimistic that the permit renewal language will emerge from conference.

2. Ranching Threatened in Southern Utah?

The Grand Canyon Trust recently purchased base property in the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument that has grazing permits associated with it. The environmental group apparently wants to voluntarily relinquish the permits even though it may never have purchased the permits in the first place. Further, the group wants to eliminate grazing within the permitted allotments.

We understand the Department of Interior is currently preparing documentation to analyze the environmental impacts of various alternatives for the disposition of the land, including elimination of grazing, even though the Department has apparently already indicated its support for elimination of grazing in letters written to the Trust. PLC opposes efforts to reduce the amount of land available for grazing. We are disturbed by these developments and intend to pursue the issue in meetings with DOI officials.

3. Categorically Exclude That!

PLC is asking government officials in the Departments of Agriculture and Interior, as well as at the Council on Environmental Quality, to apply categorical exclusions to permit renewals pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act. We are also asking the administration to consider conducting NEPA on a watershed basis, rather than on a permit-by-permit basis. Additionally, we are asking the administration to support our effort to gain permanent protection for permit renewals.

4. We Want Your Stories

PLC needs to hear your stories about ways in which your operations have been harmed under the Babbit-era grazing regulations, and about ways your operations have been harmed through the application of the Endangered Species Act. Administrative and legislation activity will be taking place in both these arenas. We want to inform the debate with actual stories from the country about why the existing grazing regulations and the Endangered Species Act needs to be reformed. Your stories should be forwarded to PLC's Executive Director.

5. Will PLC Be Doing Anything Legislatively This Year?

You'd be surprised, or maybe not, how often we get this question. We also get the question from the Hill. Your Executive Director recently met with staff from the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and from Chairman Pombo's office concerning our legislative plans for the upcoming year. The following agenda was presented to the two offices (the actual statutory language will be worked out by NCBA/PLC members in a process to be announced):

1. Permanent statutory protection for permit renewal

2. ESA Reform

3. NEPA Reform

4. Specific problem areas requiring oversight:

Grand Canyon Trust buyout of base grazing property in Utah

Implementation of Sierra Nevada Forest Plan

Implementation of Dakota Grassland Forest Plan

Let me know if you think there are other topics that we should be pursuing in the current legislative year, or what you think of the agenda. Your suggestions will be considered by PLC leadership for inclusion in the organization's legislative agenda.

6. The Chief and Us

PLC staff and Chandler Keys met with the Chief last week to discuss issues of common interest. As you may know, the Chief will be addressing our Federal Lands Committee this coming Thursday, January 30. The Chief was told that our members primary concern with the Forest Service is that a new approach to federal land use from the Bush Administration has not been felt by ranchers at the field level. The Chief told us that any problems that arise on a forest should be brought up at the regional forest level before they are brought up at the national level. Some of the specific issues or proposals raised with the Chief include:

1.. Troubleshooting task force.

The Department of Agriculture for Arizona recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Forest Service concerning management of the national forests within the state. Arizona cattlemen would like the Region III of the Forest Service to appoint a task force to consider and make recommendations about grazing conflicts as they arise. A similar task force has been appointed in New Mexico to good effect according to Arizona cattlemen.

2.. Cooperative management.

Arizona cattlemen would like to enter into a cooperative agreement with the Forest Service to test manage a part of a national forest by a nonfederal committee on behalf of the Forest Service. The Forest Service has provided us with examples of cooperative agreements they have entered into with other nonfederal entities.

States other than Arizona may have issues with the Forest Service. If this is the case, do not hesitate to contact me and we can discuss what I can do to help out.