Putting
the "Public" Back In "Public Trust"
News
Release a right step forward for wild bison
State
of Montana and National Park Service to jointly develop new Bison
Management Plan
The National Park Service
(NPS) and the State of Montana (State) have agreed to prepare
a joint Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to consider possible
changes for managing wild Yellowstone bison and the non-native
disease brucellosis.
The process will allow the NPS and
the State to account for substantial new information and changed
circumstances since the implementation of the Interagency Bison
Management Plan (IBMP) began in 2001, and could result in the
creation of a plan to replace the IBMP.
The NPS and the State will be working
within the guidelines of both the National Environmental
Policy Act (NEPA) and the Montana Environmental Policy Act (MEPA)
in preparing the EIS.
A notice will be published in the Federal
Register later this year announcing the start of public scoping,
which is an opportunity early in the planning and EIS process
for the public, organizations, and other agencies to suggest issues
and alternatives that should be considered by the NPS and the
State.
The purpose of management is to conserve
a viable wild population of Yellowstone bison while continuing
to reduce the risk of brucellosis transmission to cattle, damage
to property, and threats to human safety.
The NPS and the State will continue
to implement the current IBMP with agreed upon adaptive management
changes until new Federal and State Records of Decision are signed
at the conclusion of this environmental planning and review process.
Thank you,
Kathryn QannaYahu
406-579-7748
www.emwh.org