With Judge McKeon's decision on whether bison kept in quarantine are livestock or wildlife released this week, interest is higher than ever in a 2-day bison meeting that will be hosted by the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks in Lewistown next week.
As the determine what the plan of action for bison in the state of Montana will be, the following is the draft agenda for the meeting:
Bison Discussion Group Agenda
Convened by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks
Yogo Inn, Lewistown, Montana
April 15-16, 20
This agenda has been divided into a variety of topics to allow the group to discuss the issues, concerns, and potential opportunities related to bison management in Montana.
A selection of support material developed by FWP to aid in the discussion on potential alternatives will be provided. Additional information including references will be available.
Introduction of Members
Reiteration of Ground Rules
Meeting Logistics
Purpose and Need
Goals of Group
• First Session Objectives (September 2013): 1. Provide a discussion opportunity to better inform and clarify interests and concerns about bison on the landscape in the area; 2. Explore common values, parameters and guiding principles related to bison
• Second Session Objectives (April 2014): 1. Evaluate potential alternatives to be included in a MEPA analysis and discuss some of the specific issues associated with each alternative.
10:30 Overview of Process to Date (FWP)
Initial Evaluation and Development of Public Information Background Document
Public Scoping Process
11:00 Clarification on the Major Issues Identified During Scoping and the September Meeting
Management of Yellowstone Bison (Pat Flowers and Christian Mackay)
• Update on the current Environmental Assessment For Year-Round Bison Tolerance on the West Side of the Park
• Status of Quarantine Feasibility Study Bison (Turner Enterprises; Fort Peck & Fort Belknap)
• Additional Updates
Statutes that Relate to Bison (FWP: Becky Dockter)
• Legal Classification of Bison
• Statutes and Legal Rulings that Relate to Conservation of Bison.
• Additional Statutes Related to Confinement, Liability, etc.
Reportable Diseases in Bison and Livestock (Department of Livestock)
• Disease risk
• Disease management
Property Rights (FWP to include Becky Dockter)
Other Topics as Determined Necessary
1:00 Lunch (provided to group)
2:00 Presentation and Description of Alternatives Identified through Scoping (FWP) (Brief synopsis of each alternative to include a listing of the pluses and minuses as documented by herd managers, research findings, etc. )
Alternatives Determined to be Outside the Scope of this Process
Alternative 1- No Action
Alternative 2- Slow Growing, Very Small Herd (<50 bison)
Alternative 3- Small Research Herd (<100 bison)
Alternative 4- Minimum Genetic Herd (200-400 bison)
Alternative 5- Effective Population Size (at least 1,000 bison)
Alternative 6- Confined Herd
Possible geographic locations for Alternatives 2-6
6:00 Day 1 Meeting Concludes
April 16
8:00 Summary of Day 1, Logistics, etc. (Group and Ginny Tribe)
8:30 Discussion on Alternatives presented on Day 1 (Group and Ginny Tribe)
Group discussion of ALL alternatives
Group identification and/or confirmation of pluses and minuses for each alternative presented on Day 1
12:00 Lunch (provided to group)
1:00 Continued Discussion and Next Steps (Group and Ginny Tribe)
Group discussion of ALL alternatives (continued)
Group identification and/or confirmation of pluses and minuses for each alternative presented on Day 1 (continued)
What is the next step of this process and for this group
• Additional Meetings? Are individual, agency or organization presentations necessary at any future meetings?
• Additional Support Material Needs?
• Timeline for drafting the EIS
Recommendation for EIS Process
• Public meetings
• Comment period
4:00 Meeting Concludes
© Northern Ag Network 2014
Haylie Shipp
