OCR Text |
Show Comment time extended for grazing WASHINGTON, D.C. -. A public comment period f. o ri v p r op o s e d amendments to grazing regulations covering public lands administered by the Interior Department's Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has been extended for 30 days. The changes would cover public lands in the western States exclusive of Alaska. The original personnel to allocate increased grazing use to -permittees or -lessees whose contributions result in increased forage production permanently available for livestock use. The amendments would provide a more effective deterrent to unauthorized grazing use by increasing the amount the BLM may collect in settlement and by strengthening enforcement procedures. These changes are seen as necessary to improve protection of the resources and the grazing privileges of authorized grazing users. The proposed amendments also emphasize increased consultation with parties affected by grazing use decisions. 60-day period, announced on Nov, 11, 1981 was to have ended on Jan. 12, i 1982. It will now end on Feb. 11. The proposed amendments include deletion of approximately 20 percent of the volume of existing regulations. They also would provide an incentive for livestock operators to contribute toward rangeland improvement work and would streamline Bureau procedures for handling unauthorized grazing use. The Department is requesting public comment on the proposed amendments and recommendations on how the grazing regulations could be strengthened and improved. Specifically, the proposed amendments would allow BLM field |