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House committee reports out major pro-hunting bill

The House Natural Resources Committee has reported out, by a 2-1 vote the Recreational Fishing and Hunting Heritage and Opportunities Act, H.R. 1825.

This is indeed a game-changer. Among other things, it opens Forest Service and BLM lands to hunting and fishing, unless closed by the agencies. (Now the statute goes the other way, these are allowed only if the agency allows them). This makes a big difference because it's much easier to sue to challenge an action (the environmental work wasn't done right, the rulemaking didn't answer all objections, the administrative record doesn't fully support it) than it is to challenge inaction (almost any reason, including "we've never had time to get to that" will justify inaction). Now the action is opening lands, so any decision is vulnerable. Under the statute, the action is closing lands, so the closure in vulnerable.

Here's the text of the bill. It also provides that no authorization of hunting or fishing shall be considered a "a major Federal action significantly affecting the quality of the human environment." That means NEPA doesn't apply (NEPA analysis is a major burden and point of legal challenge), and that any closure of more than a square mile must involve conference with State game officials, and notice to the Committee.