3.1.3 PRIME RANGELANDS OR GRASSLANDS

USDA Departmental Regulation 9500-3, "Land Use Policy," and Public Law 99-198, Food Security Act of 1985, "Highly Erodible Land Conservation” and The Farmland Protection Policy Act (Public Law 98-98).

Rangelands provide the principal source of forage for the cattle and sheep operations on thousands of American farms and ranches. Ranges also provide water, recreation, wildlife and fish habitat and cover, minerals, and archaeological, historical, and cultural amenities. As the human population increases, the need for forage and the other range resources will also increase. Rural Development should advocate the protection and enhancement of range ecosystems and contribute to the social and economic well being of people and communities that depend on range for their livelihoods.

 Rural Development should not authorize, fund, or carry out a proposed action (1) involving the conversion of prime rangeland or (2) adversely affecting the unique values and benefits of prime rangeland or National Grasslands unless there is clearly no practical alternative to the action. Whenever a action is determined to have the potential for impacting prime rangeland, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resource Conversation Service, or Forest Service and local Soil Conservation District should be consulted, as appropriate, as early as possible in the environmental impact analysis process to evaluate the degree of impact, possible consequences, and protective requirements concerning the action.

Rural Development shall avoid the unwarranted conversion of Prime Rangeland.

Rural Development shall advocate, in coordination with other USDA agencies, the retention of prime rangeland whenever proposed conversions to other uses are (1) caused or encouraged by actions or programs of a federal agency, or (2) require licensing or approval by a federal agency, unless other needs clearly override the benefits derived from the retention of such land.

See Exhibit M of Instruction 1940-G for additional requirements regarding conservation of highly erodible land.

Definitions

The definition of Prime Rangeland is found in USDA Departmental Regulation 9500-3. DR 9500-3 is included in Rural Development Instruction 1940-G as Exhibit A. Prime Rangeland is defined as rangeland that, because of its soil, climate, topography, vegetation, and location has the highest quality or value for grazing animals. The potential natural vegetation is palatable, nutritious, and available to the kinds of herbivores common to the area.

USDA actions must not convert, directly or indirectly, prime rangeland unless there is a demonstrated significant need and no practicable alternative exists. If conversion is unavoidable, mitigation measures to minimize the impact are necessary.

Consult with USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) for assistance in identifying "Prime Rangeland."

Federal:  http://www.fs.fed.us/grasslands

               http://www.fs.fed.us/rangelands

DE/MD does not have any prime rangeland or grasslands designated by NRCS.  

Full text of the Farmland Protection Policy Act and Departmental Regulation Land Use Policy:  http://www.usda.gov/rus/water/ees/toc.htm#Statutes

 Governing Federal Regulations.

(a) U.S. Department of Agriculture, Departmental Regulation 9500-3, Land Use Policy.

(b) U.S. Department of Agriculture, Departmental Regulation 9500~5, Policy on Range.

(c) Forest and Rangelands Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974, as amended,

 (PL 93-378).

(d) Soil and Water Resources Conservation Act of 1977 (PL 95-192).

(e) Renewable Resources Extension Act of 1978 (PL 95-306).

(f) Public Rangelands Improvement Act of 1978 (PL 95-514).

(g) Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (PL 94-579).

(h) Executive Order 11514, Protection and Enhancement of Environmental Quality.

(i) Title 7, Part 1b and lc, Code of Federal Regulations, U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Environmental Policy Act.

(j) National Environmental Policy Act, 42 U.S.C. 4321.