Bison Range comment deadline extended

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has extended until Sept. 18 the public comment period on a proposal to allow the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes a greater role in running the National Bison Range complex.

The proposed Annual Funding Agreement would allow the tribes to manage and implement biological, maintenance, public use and fire management programs.

The environmental assessment from the Fish and Wildlife Service covers the Bison Range as well as the Ninepipe and Pablo National Wildlife Refuges and nine waterfowl production areas on the Flathead Indian Reservation.

 Under the proposal, staff positions associated with these programs would be transferred to the tribes for recruitment of their own employees.

The tribes have long sought involvement in Bison Range management under the Indian Self Determination and Education Assistance Act.

A previous agreement between the federal agency and the tribes was rejected by a federal judge because an environmental assessment had not been conducted.

The Fish and Wildlife Service analyzed other alternatives that would allow the tribes to manage or assist with programs, services, functions, and activities on the refuge complex to various degrees for five years.  

The proposed agreement and the alternatives are contained in the environmental assessment that can be downloaded from the refuge complex’s website: www.fws.gov/bisonrange.

Comments may be submitted by email to bisonrange@fws.gov or mailed to National Bison Range, 58355 Bison Range Rd., Moiese, MT 59824. All comments must be emailed or postmarked by Sept. 18.