[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 123 (Tuesday, September 16, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9433-S9434]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         GRAZING USE STUDY ACT

  The Senate proceeded to consider the bill (S. 308) to require the 
Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study concerning grazing use of 
certain land within and adjacent to Grand Teton National Park, WY, and 
to extend temporarily certain grazing privileges,

[[Page S9434]]

which had been reported from the Committee on Energy and Natural 
Resources, with an amendment to strike all after the enacting clause 
and inserting in lieu thereof the following:

     SECTION 1. FINDINGS.

       Congress finds that--
       (1) open space near Grand Teton National Park continues to 
     decline;
       (2) as the population continues to grow in Teton County, 
     Wyoming, undeveloped land near the park becomes more scarce;
       (3) the loss of open space around Grand Teton National Park 
     has negative impacts on wildlife migration routes in the area 
     and on visitors to the park, and its repercussions can be 
     felt throughout the entire region;
       (4) a few ranches make up Teton Valley's remaining open 
     space, and the ranches depend on grazing in Grand Teton 
     National Park for summer range to maintain operations;
       (5) the Act that created Grand Teton National Park allowed 
     several permittees to continue livestock grazing in the park 
     for the life of a designated heir in the family;
       (6) some of the last remaining heirs have died, and as a 
     result of the possible termination of ranching, the open 
     space around the park may likely be subdivided and developed;
       (7) in order to develop the best solution to protect open 
     space immediately adjacent to Grand Teton National Park, the 
     National Park Service should conduct a study of grazing in 
     the area and its impact on open space in the region; and
       (8) the study should develop workable solutions that are 
     fiscally responsible and acceptable to the National Park 
     Service, the public, local government, and landowners in the 
     area.

     SEC. 2. STUDY OF GRAZING USE AND OPEN SPACE.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary of the Interior (hereinafter 
     referred to as the ``Secretary''), shall conduct a study 
     concerning grazing use and open space in Grand Teton National 
     Park, Wyoming (hereinafter referred to as the ``park''), and 
     associated use of certain agricultural and ranch lands within 
     and adjacent to the park, including--
       (1) base land having appurtenant grazing privileges within 
     the park, remaining after January 1, 1990, under the Act 
     entitled ``An Act to establish a new Grand Teton National 
     Park in the State of Wyoming, and for other purposes'', 
     approved September 14, 1950 (16 U.S.C. 406-1 et seq.); and
       (2) any ranch and agricultural land adjacent to the park, 
     the use and disposition of which may affect accomplishment of 
     the purposes of the park's enabling Act.
       (b) Purpose.--The study shall--
       (1) assess the significance of the ranching use and 
     pastoral character (including open vistas, wildlife habitat, 
     and other public benefits) of the land;
       (2) assess the significance of that use and character to 
     the purposes for which the park was established, and identify 
     any need for preservation of, and practicable means of 
     preserving, the land that is necessary to protect that use 
     and character; and
       (3) recommend a variety of economically feasible and viable 
     tools and techniques to retain the pastoral qualities of the 
     area, and estimate the costs of implementing any 
     recommendations made for the preservation of the land.
       (c) Participation.--In conducting the study, the Secretary 
     shall consult with the Governor of the State of Wyoming, the 
     Teton County Commissioners, the Secretary of Agriculture, 
     affected landowners, and other interested members of the 
     public.
       (d) Report.--Not later than 3 years from the date funding 
     is made available, the Secretary shall submit a report to 
     Congress that contains the findings of the study under 
     subsection (a) and makes recommendations to Congress 
     regarding action that may be taken with respect to the land 
     described in subsection (a).

     SEC. 3. EXTENSION OF GRAZING PRIVILEGES.

       (a) In General.--Subject to subsection (b), the Secretary 
     shall reinstate and extend for the duration of the study 
     described in section 2(a) and until such time as 6 months 
     after the recommendations of the study are submitted, the 
     grazing privileges described in section 2(a)(1), under the 
     same terms and conditions as were in effect prior to the 
     expiration of the privileges.
       (b) Effect of Change in Land Use.--If, during the period of 
     the study or until 6 months after the recommendations of the 
     study are submitted, any portion of the land described in 
     section 2(a)(1) is disposed of in a manner that would result 
     in the land no longer being used for ranching or other 
     agricultural purposes, the Secretary shall cancel the 
     extension described in subsection (a).

  The amendment was agreed to.
  The bill, as amended, was ordered to be engrossed for a third 
reading, read the third time, and passed.
  The title was amended so as to read: ``A bill to require the 
Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study concerning grazing use and 
open space of certain land within and adjacent to Grand Teton National 
Park, Wyoming, and to extend temporarily certain grazing privileges.''.

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