[105th Congress Public Law 81]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office]
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[DOCID: f:publ81.105]
Public Law 105-81
105th Congress
An Act
To require the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study concerning
grazing use and open space within and adjacent to Grand Teton National
Park, Wyoming, and to extend temporarily certain grazing
privileges. <<NOTE: Nov. 13, 1997 - [H.R. 708]>>
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. FINDINGS. <<NOTE: 16 USC 406d-2 note.>>
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 Teton 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 the open space around the Park will most 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
Park Service should conduct a study of 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. <<NOTE: 16 USC 406d-2
note.>>
(a) In General.--The Secretary of the Interior shall conduct a study
concerning grazing use and open space in Grand Teton National Park,
Wyoming, and associated use of certain agricultural and ranch lands
within and adjacent to the Park, including--
(1) base land having appurtenant grazing privileges within
Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, 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. 406d-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 Act.
(b) Purpose.--The study shall--
(1) assess the significance of the ranching use and pastoral
character of the land (including open vistas, wildlife habitat,
and other public benefits);
(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;
(3) recommend a variety of economically feasible and viable
tools and techniques to retain the pastoral qualities of the
land; and
(4) estimate the costs of implementing any recommendations
made for the preservation of the land.
(c) Participation.--In conducting the study, the Secretary of the
Interior shall seek participation from the Governor of the State of
Wyoming, the Teton County Commissioners, the Secretary of Agriculture,
affected land owners, and other interested members of the public.
(d) Report.--Not later than 3 years from the date funding is
available for the purposes of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior
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. <<NOTE: 16 USC 406d-2 note.>>
(a) In General.--Subject to subsection (b), the Secretary of the
Interior shall reinstate and extend for the duration of the study
described in section 2(a) and until such time as the recommendations of
the study are implemented, 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 such time as the recommendations of the study are
implemented, 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 of the
Interior shall cancel the extension described in subsection (a).
Approved November 13, 1997.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--H.R. 708 (S. 308):
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HOUSE REPORTS: No. 105-300 (Comm. on Resources).
SENATE REPORTS: No. 105-64 accompanying S. 308 (Comm. on Energy and
Natural Resources).
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 143 (1997):
Oct. 21, considered and passed House.
Nov. 4, considered and passed Senate.
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