07/18/06 What BLM`s new grazing rule does

American Rancher July 18, 2006 One thing BLM's new grazing rule published last week will do when it takes effect next month, pending a legal challenge, will once again allow grazing permittees to share title to improvements like fences, wells and water pipelines, something the Rangeland Reform regulations of the Clinton Administration didn't allow. BLM official Jim Hughes says that had an impact. Hughes: "In 1995 when those regulations took effect the number of range improvements declined from 15-hundred to one-thousand and fifty in 2002." And Hughes notes some improvements like water availability also benefits wildlife. The new rule also allows up to 24 months, instead of prior to the start of the next grazing season, for the BLM to formulate an appropriate course of action in cases where grazing practices are at issue. For example requiring some fencing or alternative water. Hughes: "Well in many cases you couldn't even get in there. We couldn't get in there because of winter weather, monsoon rains in the area. So we said that did not work. We needed to extend their ability to get in there and fix that that up." The new rule also phases in grazing use decreases, as well as increases, of more than ten percent, over a five-year period. Removed is a restriction that has limited temporary non-use of a grazing permit to three consecutive years. I'm Bob Hoff.