On June 7, Senators Jon Tester (D-MT) and John Thune (R-SD) introduced the Sportsmen's Act of 2012 that pulls together 16 separate bills impacting sportsmen, reports the Wildlife Management Institute. The bills are packaged and filed as an amendment to the Senate's Farm Bill that is currently being debated on the Senate floor (see related story). The amendment is broader in scope than the Sportsmen's Heritage Act that passed the House in mid-April including a number of reauthorization bills as well as legislation to protect traditional lead ammunition and to provide funding for sportsmen's access projects. However, the amendment does not include some of the more controversial provisions within the House bill that were spotlighted by some groups as potentially opening wilderness access to development and motorized recreation.

"When I talk to hunters and anglers, their biggest concern is access to public lands," commented Senator Tester. "This common sense legislation combines the best ideas from Republicans and Democrats to ensure that the best places to hunt and fish are available to sportsmen and women. As Chairman of the Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus, I'll keep fighting for them."

"I am pleased that this amendment significantly advances the cause of making public lands more accessible for multiple uses including hunting, fishing, and other outdoor recreation," said Senator Thune. "Our amendment reauthorizes the North American Wetlands Conservation Act and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. This amendment also includes language that I've advocated for in the past which would ensure that the EPA cannot regulate the use of lead ammunition and lead in fishing gear."

One provision within the legislation would direct 1.5 percent of Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) dollars towards priority recreational access projects. The "Making Public Lands Public" provision is intended to improve access to Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service lands where access is blocked by private land. Priority access easements and acquisitions often do not fare well when directly competing for limited LWCF funds with large-scale habitat conservation efforts. Dedicating a small percentage of LWCF dollars towards these small but critical projects has the potential to significantly improve sportsmen's access.

Another priority for many sportsmen's groups that is included in the Senate Sportsmen's Act is language to confirm that the Environmental Protection Agency does not have the jurisdiction to regulate traditional ammunition with lead components and lead fishing tackle. This provision is strongly supported by the fishing tackle and arms and ammunition industries. The amendment would also adjust funding limits under the Wildlife Restoration Program to allow states more funds available for a longer period of time for the creation and maintenance of shooting ranges.

"Senators Tester and Thune are to be commended for their leadership and willingness to reach across the aisle to co-sponsor this important amendment containing so many priority items for hunters and shooters," said NSSF Senior Vice President and General Counsel Lawrence G. Keane. "Passage of this unprecedented legislation will protect and defend our nation's hunting, shooting and conservation heritage for generations to come."

Other provisions within the amendment would:

• Assess the critical marine habitat associated with wells and platforms scheduled for removal in the Gulf of Mexico
• Conserve billfish by prohibiting the sale of Pacific-caught billfish outside of Hawaii
• Allow hunters who legally harvested polar bears in Canada prior to its listing under the Endangered Species Act to purchase permits and transport their trophies into the U.S.
• Reauthorize the Duck Stamp Act and authorize the Secretary of the Interior to set the price of the stamp for three-year periods beginning in 2013; the amendment will also permanently authorize the online sale of duck stamps
• Reauthorize the North American Wetlands Conservation Act, Partners for Fish and Wildlife program, Neotropical Migratory Bird Act, and Multinational Species Conservation Fund
• Reauthorize the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
• Reauthorize the Federal Land Transfer Authority Act that allows the Bureau of Land Management to sell land to private landowners, counties, companies and others for ranching, community development and various projects. The sales revenue allows agencies to acquire high priority lands with important wildlife habitat value and recreational access for hunting and fishing.
• Authorize the National Fish Habitat Conservation Act to protect and improve fish habitat by improving water quality and quantity across the nation.
• Codify organic language for the Joint Ventures Program
• Clarify law to allow bows to be transported across national park lands, as firearms are currently allowed

A group of 44 hunting and fishing organizations sent a letter to the full Senate urging passage of the amendment. "This amendment is essential to the expansion and enhancement of hunting and recreational fishing and shooting on federal public lands and the sustainability of fish and wildlife populations that support those activities. We urge you to vote for passage of the amendment, the Sportsmen's Act of 2012," the groups wrote.

In addition, Senator Jim Risch (R-ID) introduced the House-passed Sportsmen's Heritage Act as a separate amendment to the Farm Bill opening up the potential for debate between the two packages. (jas)