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Some of the rules that may be attached to allotments by the government against the rancher :

Wildlife

• Maintain all existing livestock waters and keep them available for wildlife use.

• Do not allow salt to be placed within one-quarter mile of water sources.

• Wildlife escape ramps would be placed in all livestock and wildlife waters.

• All new and reconstructed fences would be designed to allow for movement of mule deer, antelope and elk.

• Manage livestock grazing within protected and restricted Mexican spotted owl habitats to provide for woody and herbaceous vegetation necessary for prey species.

• Manage livestock grazing with northern goshawk habitat so that average use would not exceed 20% and would not exceed 40% in key areas.

• Conduct annual northern alpomado falcon surveys within identified potential habitat to track potential prey populations and to verify presence or absence of falcons.

• Protect nesting substrate of any northern alpomado falcon nests (if nesting occurs) from rubbing of livestock through appropriate protective measures (i.e. fencing).

Cultural Resources

• Protect known archeological sites by using management practices that would discourage livestock grazing within those areas.

Range

• Locate waters away from springs and other sensitive areas

• Salting and mineral locations would be at least ¼ mile from water locations.

• Routine inspections would be conducted to utilization level and monitor range and watershed conditions as prescribed the Terms and Conditions of each permit and Allotment Operating Instructions.

• Range analysis and production-utilization surveys would be conducted, as funding allows.

Water Quality

• The applicable BMPs would be incorporated to improve water quality during range and watershed improvement projects. As a minimum, utilize 22.1 and 22.11 through 22.16 as listed in the Forest Service Handbook 2509.22 (see Appendix C of EA) and Soil and Water Conservation Handbook, R-3 Transmittal, Effective December 3, 1990:

• To ensure that all project implementation contains site-specific BMP’s (best management practices) developed through the IRM process.

• To ensure that all new and renewed term grazing permits contain provisions for compliance with water pollution control and abatement regulations and standards under the authority of the Clean Water Act as an enforceable condition to those agreements.

• To do monitoring to ensure application of BMP’s as designed.

For more than a century, American ranchers across the West have depended on rangelands for their livelihoods and have devoted themselves to sustaining healthy landscapes.

However, the grazing operations throughout the West benefit more Americans than simply the ranchers that depend upon them. Well-managed livestock grazing accomplishes the following:

· Increases the diversity and productivity of rangelands and wildlife populations,

· Preserves open spaces and cultural traditions throughout the West, and

· Sustains the economies of rural communities.

http://www.beefusa.org/govegrazingpermitbuyouts.aspx

I like those links that you mentioned.

“Land of Many Uses” was the motto for a long time.

Under Bill Clinton, politicans like Martha Ketelle vacated many allotments that had been active since the 1800’s.

One of their tricks was to say ‘no new roads’ in the title : which meant to try to close 50 miles per year of existing roads per forest.

This keeps hunters, tourists, fishermen, hikers, campers, families...off the public lands too.

The fire fighters then have a much bigger, more expensive, and more dangerous problem as these historical roads had allowed them to promptly and safely respond to a fire and to support any fire jumpers.

Their “ Timber harvest/allowable sale quantity “ section allows about one tenth of one percent per year available for harvest. That is less than...

A team of expensive lawyers would be needed to fill out all of the paper work. It might take several attempts to get it approved.

http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-IMPACT/1999/August/Day-06/i19922.htm