[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1614 Introduced in House (IH)]
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118th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1614
To facilitate the creation of designated shooting ranges on National
Forest System land and public land administered by the Bureau of Land
Management for the public to use for recreational target shooting, and
for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 17, 2023
Mr. Moore of Utah (for himself and Mr. Panetta) 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
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To facilitate the creation of designated shooting ranges on National
Forest System land and public land administered by the Bureau of Land
Management for the public to use for recreational target shooting, and
for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Range Access Act''.
SEC. 2. TARGET SHOOTING RANGES.
(a) Definition of Target Shooting Range.--In this section, the term
``target shooting range'' means a developed and managed area that is
authorized or operated by the Forest Service or the Bureau of Land
Management specifically for the purposeful discharge by the public of
legal firearms, firearms training, archery, or other associated
activities.
(b) Assessment; Identification of Target Shooting Range
Locations.--
(1) Assessment.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary concerned shall make
available to the public a list that--
(A) identifies each National Forest and each Bureau
of Land Management district that has a target shooting
range that meets the requirements described in
paragraph (3)(B);
(B) identifies each National Forest and each Bureau
of Land Management district that does not have a target
shooting range that meets the requirements described in
paragraph (3)(B); and
(C) for each National Forest and each Bureau of
Land Management district identified under subparagraph
(B), provides a determination of whether applicable law
or the applicable land use plan prevents the
establishment of a target shooting range that meets the
requirements described in paragraph (3)(B).
(2) Identification of target shooting range locations.--
(A) In general.--The Secretary concerned shall
identify at least 1 suitable location for a target
shooting range that meets the requirements described in
paragraph (3)(B) within each National Forest and each
Bureau of Land Management district with respect to
which the Secretary concerned has determined under
paragraph (1)(C) that the establishment of a target
shooting range is not prevented by applicable law or
the applicable land use plan.
(B) Requirements.--The Secretaries, in consultation
with the entities described in subsection (d), shall,
for purposes of identifying a suitable location for a
target shooting range under subparagraph (A)--
(i) consider the proximity of areas
frequently used by recreational shooters;
(ii) ensure that the target shooting range
would not adversely impact a shooting range
operated or maintained by a non-Federal entity,
including a shooting range located on private
land; and
(iii) consider other nearby recreational
uses to minimize potential conflict.
(3) Establishment of new target shooting ranges.--
(A) In general.--Not later than 5 years after the
date of enactment of this Act, at 1 or more suitable
locations identified on each eligible National Forest
and each Bureau of Land Management district under
paragraph (2)(A), the Secretary concerned shall--
(i) subject to the availability of
appropriations, construct a target shooting
range that meets the requirements described in
subparagraph (B) or modify an existing target
shooting range to meet the requirements
described in subparagraph (B); or
(ii) enter into an agreement with an entity
described in subsection (d)(1), under which the
entity shall establish or maintain a target
shooting range that meets the requirements
described in subparagraph (B).
(B) Requirements.--A target shooting range
established under this paragraph--
(i)(I) shall be able to accommodate rifles,
pistols, and shotguns; and
(II) may accommodate archery;
(ii) shall include appropriate public
safety designs and features, including--
(I) significantly modified
landscapes, including berms, buffer
distances, or other public safety
designs or features;
(II) a designated firing line; and
(III) benches;
(iii) may include--
(I) shade structures;
(II) trash containers;
(III) restrooms; and
(IV) any other features that the
Secretary concerned determines to be
necessary; and
(iv) may not require a user to pay a fee to
use the target shooting range.
(C) Recreation and public purposes act.--For
purposes of subparagraph (A), the Secretary concerned
may consider a target shooting range that is located on
land transferred pursuant to the Act of June 14, 1926
(commonly known as the ``Recreation and Public Purposes
Act'') (44 Stat. 741, chapter 578; 43 U.S.C. 869 et
seq.), as a target shooting range that meets the
requirements described in subparagraph (B).
(c) Restrictions.--
(1) Management.--The management of a target shooting range
shall be subject to such conditions as the Secretary concerned
determines are necessary for the safe, responsible use of--
(A) the target shooting range; and
(B) the adjacent land and resources.
(2) Closures.--Except in emergency situations, the
Secretary concerned shall seek to ensure that a target shooting
range that meets the requirements described in subsection
(b)(3)(B), or an equivalent shooting range adjacent to a
National Forest or Bureau of Land Management district, is
available to the public prior to closing Federal recreational
lands and waters administered by the Chief of the Forest
Service or the Director of the Bureau of Land Management to
recreational shooting, in accordance with section 4103 of the
John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation
Act (16 U.S.C. 7913).
(d) Consultations.--
(1) In general.--In carrying out this section, the
Secretaries shall consult, as applicable, with--
(A) local and Tribal governments;
(B) nonprofit or nongovernmental organizations,
including organizations that are signatories to the
memorandum of understanding entitled ``Federal Lands
Hunting, Fishing, and Shooting Sports Roundtable
Memorandum of Understanding'' and signed by the Forest
Service and the Bureau of Land Management on August 17,
2006;
(C) State fish and wildlife agencies;
(D) shooting clubs;
(E) Federal advisory councils relating to hunting
and shooting sports;
(F) individuals or entities with authorized leases
or permits in an area under consideration for a target
shooting range;
(G) State and local offices of outdoor recreation;
(H) State and local public safety agencies; and
(I) the public.
(2) Partnerships.--The Secretaries may--
(A) coordinate with an entity described in
paragraph (1) to assist with the construction,
modification, operation, or maintenance of a target
shooting range; and
(B) explore opportunities to leverage funding to
maximize non-Federal investment in the construction,
modification, operation, or maintenance of a target
shooting range.
(e) Annual Reports.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this Act and annually thereafter through fiscal year 2033,
the Secretaries shall submit to the Committee on Energy and Natural
Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources of the
House of Representatives a report describing the progress made with
respect to the implementation of this section.
(f) Savings Clause.--Nothing in this section affects the authority
of the Secretary concerned to administer a target shooting range that
is in addition to the target shooting ranges that meet the requirements
described in subsection (b)(3)(B) on Federal recreational lands and
waters administered by the Secretary concerned.
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