This is the "buy out" language in S. 258, as reported out of committee (S. Rpt. 113-166). Note the legislation limits the program to only two states: New Mexico & Oregon.
SEC. 3. VOLUNTARY RELINQUISHMENT OF GRAZING PERMITS OR LEASES.
Title IV of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43
U.S.C. 1751 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``SEC. 405. VOLUNTARILY RELINQUISHMENT PILOT PROGRAM.--
``(a) In General.--There is established in the Department of the
Interior and the Department of Agriculture a pilot program that--
``(1) authorizes the voluntary relinquishment of grazing
permits or leases in the eligible States specified in
subsection (f); and
``(2) provides that grazing permits or leases voluntarily
relinquished under this section shall be permanently retired
from further grazing authorization.
``(b) Acceptance by Secretary and Secretary of Agriculture.--
``(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), within the
eligible States specified in subsection (f)--
``(A) the Secretary shall accept the voluntary
relinquishment of any valid permits or leases
authorizing grazing on public land; and
``(B) the Secretary of Agriculture shall accept the
voluntary relinquishment of any valid permits or leases
authorizing grazing on land in the National Forest
System.
``(2) Limitation.--Notwithstanding paragraph (1), the
Secretary and the Secretary of Agriculture shall not accept the
voluntarily relinquishment of more than 25 grazing permits or
leases per year in each of the eligible States specified in
subsection (f).
``(c) Termination.--With respect to each permit or lease voluntarily
relinquished under subsection (a), the Secretary concerned shall--
``(1) terminate the grazing permit or lease; and
``(2) except as provided in subsection (d), ensure a
permanent end to grazing on the land covered by the permit or
lease.
``(d) Common Allotments.--
``(1) In general.--If the land covered by a grazing permit or
lease that has been voluntarily relinquished under subsection
(a) is also covered by another valid existing grazing permit or
lease that is not voluntarily relinquished under subsection
(a), the Secretary concerned shall reduce the authorized
grazing level on the land covered by the permit or lease to
reflect the relinquishment of the grazing permit or lease.
``(2) Authorized level.--To ensure that there is a permanent
reduction in the level of grazing on the land covered by a
grazing permit or lease that has been voluntarily relinquished
under subsection (a), the Secretary shall not allow grazing use
to exceed the authorized level established under paragraph (1).
``(3) Partial relinquishment.--
``(A) In general.--If a person holding a valid
grazing permit or lease voluntarily relinquishes less
than the full level of grazing use authorized under the
permit or lease, the Secretary concerned shall--
``(i) reduce the authorized grazing level to
reflect the voluntarily relinquishment; and
``(ii) modify the grazing permit or lease to
reflect the revised level of use.
``(B) Authorized level.--To ensure that there is a
permanent reduction in the authorized level of grazing
on the land covered by a permit or lease which has been
voluntarily relinquished under subparagraph (A), the
Secretary shall not allow grazing use to exceed the
authorized level established under that subparagraph.
``(e) Annual Report.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary, in collaboration with the
Secretary of Agriculture, shall prepare an annual report on the
pilot program that assesses the activities undertaken under the
pilot program during the preceding year, including the number
and location of grazing permits and leases that were
voluntarily relinquished during the preceding year.
``(2) Submission to congress.--The Secretary shall submit the
annual report prepared under paragraph (1) to--
``(A) the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
of the Senate; and
``(B) the Committee on Natural Resources of the House
of Representatives.
``(f) Eligible States.--The authority of the Secretary and the
Secretary of Agriculture to accept voluntary relinquishments in
accordance with this section shall be limited to grazing allotments in
the States of New Mexico and Oregon.''.
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