Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 96 Part 2.djvu/277

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PUBLIC LAW 97-000—MMMM. DD, 1982

PUBLIC LAW 97-341—OCT. 15, 1982

96 STAT. 1639

Public Law 97 -341 97th Congress An Act To provide for a study of grazing phaseout at Capitol Reef National Park, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. Where any Federal lands included within the boundary of Capitol Reef National Park are legally occupied or utilized on the date of enactment of this Act for grazing purposes, pursuant to a lease, permit, or license which is— (1) for a fixed term of years issued or authorized by any department, establishment, or agency of the United States, and (2) scheduled for termination before December 31, 1992, notwithstanding the provisions of section 3 of the Act of December 18, 1971, entitled "An Act to establish the Capitol Reef National Park in the State of Utah" (85 Stat. 740; 16 U.S.C. 273b), the Secretary of the Interior shall allow the persons holding such grazing privileges (or their heirs) to retain such grazing privileges until December 31, 1994. SEC. 2. The Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the National Park Service, in cooperation with the Director of the Bureau of Land Management, shall take such steps as may be necessary to, within ninety days after the enactment of this Act, enter into a contract with the National Academy of Sciences for the purpose of conducting a study of grazing in Capitol Reef National Park and vicinity to: (1) determine the historic and current impact of grazing upon the natural ecosystem and cultural resources of the park; (2) determine the impacts of grazing upon visitor use within the park; (3) evaluate alternatives to grazing within Capitol Reef National Park including means to increase grazing carrying capacity on adjacent Bureau of Land Management lands; (4) determine the economic impact upon grazing permit holders, and on the local economy, if such permits were terminated; and (5) include such other information and findings as may be deemed necessary by the Secretary of the Interior. Such study shall be conducted in accordance with the best scientific methodology (as set forth by the National Academy of Sciences) and shall be transmitted by the National Academy of Sciences to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the United States Senate, to the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs of the United States House of Representatives, and to the Director of the National Park Service no later than January 1, 1992. Progress reports regarding the study shall be transmitted to the above Committees on January 1, 1984, and January 1 of each year thereafter. SEC. 3. There are hereby authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act. No

Oct. 15, 1982 [S. 1872] Capitol Reef National Park, grazing phaseout study. 16 USC 273b note.

Contract. 16 USC 273b note.

Transmittal to congressional committees.

Appropriation authorization. 16 USC 273b note.