H.R. 1110: Grazing for Wildfire Risk Reduction Act

Summary

The Grazing for Wildfire Risk Reduction Act aims to require the U.S. Department of Agriculture, through the U.S. Forest Service, to develop and implement a strategy to increase opportunities for livestock grazing as a means of reducing wildfire risk.

Key Provisions:

1. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture, in coordination with federal grazing permit holders, to develop and implement a strategy that includes:

   • Completing reviews to allow grazing on vacant allotments during drought, wildfire, or other natural disasters
   • Using targeted grazing to reduce hazardous fuels
   • Increasing the use of temporary grazing permits for fuels reduction and invasive species control
   • Utilizing grazing as a post-fire recovery and restoration strategy
   • Employing all applicable legal authorities for livestock grazing

2. Ensures the strategy avoids conflicts with other land uses and is consistent with applicable land management plans.

3. Clarifies that the bill does not affect any existing livestock grazing programs.

Impact:

• Expands opportunities for proactive, targeted grazing to reduce hazardous fuels and mitigate wildfire risk, especially in the Western United States where much of the federal land is grazed.
• Aims to leverage livestock grazing as an effective tool for wildfire management, fire prevention, and post-fire recovery.
• Could lead to increased coordination between federal land managers and grazing permit holders to develop and implement wildfire risk reduction strategies.
• Supports the U.S. Forest Service's Wildfire Crisis Strategy, which identifies grazing as a key component of fuels management.

Overall, the bill seeks to empower federal land managers to utilize livestock grazing more extensively as a means of reducing wildfire risk and improving the health of public lands.