New Lands Grazing

25 C.F.R. Part ..., Subpart Q
in effectEffective: 2024-07-01

25 C.F.R. § 700.701 Definitions.

(a) Act means Pub. L. 93-531 (88 Sat. 1712, 25 U.S.C. 640 et. seq.) as amended by Pub. L. 96-305 and Pub. L. 100-666. (b) New Lands means the land acquired for the use of relocatees under the authority of Pub. L. 96-305, 25 U.S.C. 640d-10. These lands include the 215,000 acres of lands acquired by the Navajo and Hopi Indian Relocation Commission and added to the Navajo Reservation and 150,000 acres of private lands previously owned by the Navajo Nation in fee and taken in trust by the United States pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 640d-10. (c) Commissioner means the Commissioner of The Office of Navajo and Hopi Indian Relocation in Flagstaff, Arizona. Reference to approval or other action by the Commissioner will also include approval or other action by another Federal officer under delegated authority from the Commissioner. (d) Tribe means the Navajo Nation. (e) Range unit means a tract of range land designated as a management unit for administration of grazing. (f) Range Management Plan means a land use plan for a specific range unit that will provide for a sustained forage production consistent with soil, watershed, wildlife, and other values. (g) Stocking rate means the authorized stocking rate by range unit as determined by the Commissioner. The stocking rate shall be based on forage production, range utilization, land management applications being applied, and range improvements in place to achieve uniformity of grazing under sustained yield management principles. (h) Grazing permit means a revocable privilege granted in writing limited to entering on and utilizing forage by domestic livestock on a specified tract of land. The term, as used herein, shall include written authorization issued to enable the crossing or trailing of domestic livestock across specified tracts or range. (i) Animal unit (AU) means one adult cow with unweaned calf by her side or equivalent thereof based on comparative forage consumption. Accepted conversion factors are: Sheep and Goats—one ewe, doe, buck, or ram equals 0.25 AU. Horses and Mules—one horse, mule, donkey or burro equals 1.25 AU. (j) Sheep unit means one ewe with lamb at side or a doe goat with kid. (k) SUYL means one sheep unit grazed yearlong. (l) HPL means the area partitioned to the Hopi Tribe pursuant to Pub. L. 93-531 known as the Hopi Partitioned Land.

25 C.F.R. § 700.703 Authority.

It is within the authority of the Commissioner on Navajo and Hopi Indian Relocation to administer the New Lands added to the Navajo Reservation pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 6-10(d)-10.

25 C.F.R. § 700.705 Objectives.

It is the purpose of the regulations in this part to aid the Navajo Indians in achievement of the following objectives: (a) The preservation of the forage, the land, and the water resources on the New Lands. (b) The resettlement of Navajo Indians physically residing on the HPL to the New Lands.

25 C.F.R. § 700.707 Regulations; scope.

The grazing regulations in this part apply to the New Lands within the boundaries of the Navajo Reservation held in trust by the United States for the Navajo Tribe which lands were added to the Navajo Reservation pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 640(d)-10; 25 CFR parts 166 and 167 are not applicable to the New Lands.

25 C.F.R. § 700.709 Grazing privileges.

(a) A list of permittees eligible to receive grazing permits is kept at the Office of Navajo and Hopi Indian Relocation in Flagstaff, Arizona. This list is composed of individuals eligible for New Lands grazing permits who: (1) Have a current HPL grazing permit, or have had an HPL permit issued since 1980, or are current HPL residents and can show documentation of a past grazing permit issued in their name for grazing on an area now on the HPL, and (2) Who have not received relocation benefits under Pub. L. 93-531, and who relocate from the HPL on to a New Lands range unit. Individuals on this list will receive a commitment that a permit will be issued to them. (b) If such persons cannot relocate immediately because their chosen relocation site is not ready for occupancy, the Office will issue a commitment to them that a grazing permit will be granted upon their relocation. (c) If such persons are notified by the Office that their relocation site is ready for occupancy and they fail or refuse to make timely arrangements to relocate when requested by the Office to do so, the commitment may be withdrawn. (d) Persons on this list must file an application for a New Lands Grazing Permit. The Commissioner will determine when the application period will close and will publish notice of that date. After the close of the period for application, the Commissioner, in his sole discretion, may issue permits to individuals if it is determined that to do so will facilitate relocation. (e) Initial determinations on eligibility for grazing permits will be made by the Range Supervisor.

25 C.F.R. § 700.711 Grazing permits.

(a) All livestock grazed on the New Lands must be covered by a grazing permit authorized and issued by the Commissioner on Navajo and Hopi Indian Relocation. (b) Permit holders must: (1) Be enrolled Navajo Tribal members, (2) Be over 18 years of age, (3) Maintain a permanent residency on the New Lands Range Unit of permit issue, and (4) Own livestock which graze on the range unit of permit issue. (c) Permits will be issued for a base of 80 SUYL (20 AU) and may not be divided or transferred for less than 80 SUYL. (d)(1) Temporary seasonal grazing permits for periods not to exceed one year may be issued to permittees: (i) To use extra forage made available under rotation grazing management as regulated by a range unit management plan, (ii) To use forage created by unusually favorable climatic conditions, (iii) To allow use of range while term permits are held in suspension under § 700.715(d). (2) These temporary permits may be reissued prior to termination provided: (i) The permittee is managing grazing in compliance with grazing regulations, (ii) Livestock grazing is in compliance with the cooperative range unit range management plan, and (iii) Forage is available on the range to sustain the livestock authorized under the temporary permit.

25 C.F.R. § 700.713 Tenure of grazing permits.

(a) All active regular grazing permits shall be for five years and shall be automatically reissued for another five-year period provided the permittee is not in violation of § 700.711 or § 700.715 or § 700.719 or § 700.723 or § 700.725 of the regulations. Permits will initially be issued with an ending date of October 31 of the fifth year following the date of initial issuance. (b) Amendments to these regulations extending or limiting the tenure of grazing permits are applicable and become a condition of all previously granted permits.

25 C.F.R. § 700.715 Assignment, modification, and cancellation of grazing permits.

(a) Grazing permits may be assigned or transferred with the written consent of the contracting parties. The Commissioner will issue a new permit provided the transferee meets qualifications under § 700.711(b). (b) Temporary permits issued under § 700.711(d) are directly tied to the term permit and may be transferred with the term permit if the transferee signs the range unit management plan which provides the management for continuation of the temporary grazing permit. Temporary permits will not be transferred and shall be null and void if the term permit transferee does not sign the management plan agreeing to practice conservation management. (c) Grazing permits may be assigned for transfer through a notarized document to an heir who meets the qualifications for a grazing permit under § 700.711. (d) Grazing permits must be transferred in whole to a single transferee—the transferor relinquishing all grazing privileges at the time of transfer. (e) The Commissioner may revoke or withdraw all or any part of a grazing permit by cancellation or modification on a 30 day written notice for violation of the permit or of the management plan, non-payment of grazing fees, violation of these regulations, or because of the termination of the trust status of the permitted land.

25 C.F.R. § 700.717 Stocking rate.

The Commissioner will determine livestock carrying capacity for each range unit and set the stocking rate and adjust that rate as conditions warrant. The Commissioner may consult with the Tribe when making adjustments to the stocking rate.

25 C.F.R. § 700.719 Establishment of grazing fees.

The Commissioner may establish a minimum acceptable grazing fee per SUYL. The Commissioner may consult with the Tribe prior to establishing fees.

25 C.F.R. § 700.721 Range management plans.

The Commissioner (or his designee) and the permittees of each range unit will meet as a group and develop a Range Management Plan for the common use of the range unit. The plan will include but will not be limited to the following: (a) Goals for improving vegetative productivity. (b) Incentives for carrying out the goals. (c) Stocking rate. (d) Record of brands of livestock authorized to graze on the range unit. (e) Grazing plan and schedule. (f) Range monitoring schedule. (g) Wildlife management. (h) Needs assessment for range and livestock improvements. (i) Scheduling for operation and maintenance of existing range improvements.

25 C.F.R. § 700.722 Grazing associations.

(a) The Commissioner may recognize, cooperate with, and assist range unit livestock associations in the management of livestock and range resources. (b) These associations will provide the means for the members: (1) To jointly manage their permitted livestock and the range resources, (2) To meet jointly with the ONHIR range staff to discuss and formulate range management plans, (3) To express their wishes through designated officers or committees, (4) To share costs for handling livestock, construction of range improvements, fence and livestock facilities maintenance, and other land or livestock improvement projects agreed on, and (5) To formulate association special rules needed to assure cooperation and resource management. (c) The requirements for receiving recognition by the Commissioner are: (1) The members of the association must be grazing permittees and constitute a majority of the grazing permittees on the range unit involved. (2) The officers of the association must be elected by a majority of the association members or of a quorum as specified by the association's constitution and bylaws. (3) The officers other than secretary and treasurer must be grazing permittees on the range unit involved. (4) The association's activities must be governed by a constitution and bylaws acceptable to the Commissioner and signed by him. (5) The association's constitution and bylaws must recognize conservation management goals and the need to follow a range unit management plan. (d) The Commissioner may withdraw his recognition of the association whenever: (1) The majority of the grazing permittees request that the association be dissolved. (2) The association becomes inactive and does not meet in annual or special meetings during a consecutive two-year period. (e) A recognized association may hold a grazing permit to benefit its members according to the rules of the association constitution and bylaws. All of the association's livestock will be run under an association brand properly registered with the Navajo Tribe and the ONHIR. (f) Associations may acquire permits from consenting permittees on the range unit in accordance with § 700.711 and may assign or transfer these permits in accordance with § 700.715.

25 C.F.R. § 700.723 Control of livestock disease and parasites.

Whenever livestock within the New Lands become infected with contagious or infectious disease or parasites or have been exposed thereto, such livestock must be treated and the movement thereof restricted by the responsible permittee in accordance with applicable laws.

25 C.F.R. § 700.725 Livestock trespass.

The following acts are prohibited: (a) The grazing of livestock upon, or driving of livestock across, any of the New Lands without a current approved grazing or crossing permit. (b) The grazing of livestock upon an area specifically rested from the grazing of livestock according to the range unit Range Management Plan. (c) The grazing of livestock upon any land withdrawn from use for grazing to protect it from damage after receipt of appropriate notice from the Commissioner. (d) The grazing of livestock in excess of those numbers authorized on the livestock grazing permit approved by the Commissioner. (e) Grazing of livestock whose brand is not recorded in the range unit Range Management Plan.

25 C.F.R. § 700.727 Impoundment and disposal of unauthorized livestock.

Unauthorized livestock within any range unit of the New Lands which are not removed therefrom within the periods prescribed by the regulation will be impounded and disposed of by the Commissioner as provided herein. (a) When the Commissioner determines that unauthorized livestock use is occurring, and has definite knowledge of the kind of unauthorized livestock and knows the name and address of the owners, the owner shall be given written notice and a 10 day period shall be allowed for the permittee to solve the unauthorized use without penalty. If after this 10 day period the unauthorized use is not resolved, such livestock may be impounded at any time after five days after written Notice of Intent to Impound Unauthorized Livestock is mailed by certified mail or personally delivered to such owners or their agent. (b) When the Commissioner determines that unauthorized livestock use is occurring, but does not have complete knowledge of the number and class of livestock, or if the name and address of the owner thereof are unknown, such livestock may be impounded at anytime after 15 days after the date a General Notice of Intent to Impound Unauthorized Livestock is first published in a local newspaper, posted at the nearest chapter house, and in one or more local trading posts. (c) Unauthorized livestock on the New Lands which are owned by persons given notice under paragraph (a) of this section and any unauthorized livestock in areas for which notice has been posted and published under paragraph (b) of this section, will be impounded without further notice anytime within the 12-month period immediately following the effective date of the notice. (d) Following the impoundment of unauthorized livestock, a notice of sale of impounded livestock or unauthorized livestock will be published in a local newspaper, posted at the nearest chapter house, and in one or more local trading posts. The notice will describe the livestock and specify the date, time, and place of sale. The date set shall be at least five days after the publication and posting of such notice. (e) The owners or their agent may redeem the livestock anytime before the time set for the sale by submitting proof of ownership and paying for all expenses incurred in gathering, impounding, and feeding or pasturing the livestock and any trespass fees and/or damages caused by the animals. (f) Livestock erroneously impounded shall be returned to the rightful owner, and all expenses accruing thereto shall be waived. (g) If the livestock are not redeemed before the time fixed for their sale, they shall be sold at public sale to the highest bidder. When livestock are sold pursuant to this regulation, the Commissioner shall furnish the buyer a bill of sale or other written instrument evidencing the sale. (h) The proceeds of any sale of impounded livestock shall be applied as follows: (1) To the payment of all expenses incurred by the United States in gathering, impounding, and feeding or pasturing the livestock. (2) Trespass penalties assessed pursuant to § 700.725 shall be paid to a separate account to be administered by the Commissioner for use as a range improvement fund for the New Lands. (3) Any remaining amount shall be paid over to the owner of said livestock upon his submitting proof of ownership.

25 C.F.R. § 700.731 Appeals.

Persons who have filed a claim for a grazing permit and whose claim has been denied by the Range Supervisor may appeal to the Commissioner. Appeals must be made in writing and must be received by the Office not more than 30 days after the date the claim was denied. The appeal shall state with specificity why the decision being appealed is in error and shall incorporate all supporting documents. The Commissioner will issue a decision affirming or reversing the decision of the Range Supervisor within 60 days of receipt of the appeal. Such decision will constitute final action by the Office and will be communicated to the appellant by certified mail.

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