Description:
H.R. 3682 would require the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Forest Service to develop guidance clarifying how land grant communities in New Mexico can access resources and conduct traditional activities such as grazing and wood cutting on federal land. The bill also would direct the Forest Service to issue regulations on the maintenance of acequias, or community irrigation systems, located on federal land in the state. Using information from BLM and the Forest Service, CBO estimates that the agencies would require 10 additional employees at an average annual cost of $110,000 each for two years to collect information on traditional activities, determine the boundaries of land grant communities, and develop the guidance. The cost for those additional employees over the 2021-2022 period would total $2 million. Based on the costs of similar activities, CBO estimates that the Forest Service would incur costs of $1 million to issue regulations on the maintenance of acequias. In total, we estimate that implementing H.R. 3682 would cost $3 million over the 2021-2025 period; such spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated funds. Fees from grazing, the sale of forest products, and special use permits on federal land are classified in the budget as offsetting receipts, or reductions in direct spending. CBO expects that under H.R. 3682 BLM and the Forest Service would be more likely to waive or reduce fees paid by land grand communities. However, CBO estimates that any increases in direct spending would be insignificant over the 2021-2030 period.
