---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 580k"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "580k"
heading: "Grazing advisory boards"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/580k"
units:
  - "Chapter 3 — Forests; Forest Service; Reforestation; Management"
  - "Subchapter I — General Provisions"
---

# §580k. Grazing advisory boards

- (a) **Composition; election meetings—**
  - (1) To provide national forest grazing permittees means for the expression of their recommendations concerning the management and administration of national forest grazing lands, a local advisory board shall be constituted and elected as hereinafter provided for each national forest or administrative [subdivision](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=15) thereof, whenever a majority of the grazing permittees of such national forest or administrative [subdivision](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=15) so petitions the [Secretary](/usc/16/580p.md?p=3) of Agriculture. Each elected local advisory board existing for such purpose on April 24, 1950, and recognized as such by the Department of Agriculture, shall continue to be the local advisory board for the [unit](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=4) or [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) it represents, until replaced by a local advisory board or boards constituted and elected as hereinafter provided.
  - (2) Each such local advisory board shall be constituted and elected under rules and regulations, consistent herewith, now or hereafter approved by the [Secretary](/usc/16/580p.md?p=3) of Agriculture, and shall be recognized by him as representing the grazing permittees of the national forest or administrative [subdivision](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=15) thereof for which such local advisory board has been constituted and elected.
  - (3) Each such local advisory board shall consist of not less than three nor more than twelve members, who shall be national forest grazing permittees in the [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) for which such board is constituted, elected, and recognized. In [addition](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-2), a wildlife representative may be appointed as a member of each such board by the [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) game [commission](/usc/16/544.md?p=c), or the corresponding public body of the [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) in which the advisory board is located, to advise on wildlife problems.
  - (4) Each such local advisory board shall meet at least once annually, at a time to be fixed by such board, and at such other time or times as its members may determine, or on the call of the chairman thereof or of the [Secretary](/usc/16/580p.md?p=3) of Agriculture or his authorized representative.
- (b) **Advice and recommendations on matters within jurisdiction—** Upon the request of any party affected thereby, the [Secretary](/usc/16/580p.md?p=3) of Agriculture, or his duly authorized representative, shall refer to the appropriate local advisory board for its advice and recommendations any matter pertaining to (1) the modification of the terms, or the denial of a renewal of, or a reduction in, a grazing permit, or (2) the establishment or modification of an individual or community allotment. In the event the [Secretary](/usc/16/580p.md?p=3) of Agriculture, or his duly authorized representative, shall overrule, disregard, or modify any such recommendations, he, or such representative, shall furnish in writing to the local advisory board his reasons for such action.
- (c) **Notification by Secretary of Agriculture of intention to issue regulations; recommendations; written explanation of reasons for overruling—**
  - (1) At least thirty days prior to the issuance by the [Secretary](/usc/16/580p.md?p=3) of Agriculture of any regulation under sections [490](/usc/16/490.md), [500](/usc/16/500.md), [504](/usc/16/504.md), [504a](/usc/16/504a.md), [555](/usc/16/555.md), [557](/usc/16/557.md), [571c](/usc/16/571c.md), [572](/usc/16/572.md), [579a](/usc/16/579a.md), [580c](/usc/16/580c.md) to [580l](/usc/16/580l.md), and 581[^1] of this title or otherwise, with respect to the administration of grazing on national [forest lands](/usc/16/544.md?p=f), or of amendments or [additions](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-2) to, or modifications in, any such regulation, which in his judgment would substantially modify existing policy with respect to grazing in national forests, or which would materially affect preferences of permittees in the [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) involved, the local advisory board for each [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) that will be affected thereby shall be notified of the intention to [take](/usc/16/3102.md?p=18) such action. If as a result of this notice the [Secretary](/usc/16/580p.md?p=3) of Agriculture shall receive any recommendation respecting the issuance of the proposed regulation and shall overrule, disregard, or modify any such regulations, he or his representative shall furnish in writing to the local advisory board his reasons for such action.
  - (2) Any such local advisory board may at any time recommend to the [Secretary](/usc/16/580p.md?p=3) of Agriculture, or his representative, the issuance of regulations or instructions relating to the use of national [forest lands](/usc/16/544.md?p=f), seasons of use, grazing capacity of such lands, and any other matters affecting the administration of grazing in the [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) represented by such board.

## Footnotes

[^1]: See References in Text note below.

## Source credit

(Apr. 24, 1950, ch. 97, § 18, 64 Stat. 87.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

Section 581 of this title, referred to in subsec. (c)(1), was repealed by Pub. L. 95–307, § 8(a), June 30, 1978, 92 Stat. 356.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Termination of Advisory Boards

Advisory boards in existence on Jan. 5, 1973, to terminate not later than the expiration of the 2-year period following Jan. 5, 1973, unless, in the case of a board established by the President or an officer of the Federal Government, such board is renewed by appropriate action prior to the expiration of such 2-year period, or in the case of a board established by the Congress, its duration is otherwise provided for by law. See sections 1001(2) and 1013 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.