July 28 2022
HELENA, Mont. – Governor Greg Gianforte issued the following statement in response to the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Notice of Final Decision on the American Prairie Reserve’s bison grazing proposal.
“As we review this decision, we share Montanans’ frustration with the BLM’s woeful and repeated failures to properly engage Montanans and act within the bounds of its authority on this issue,” Gov. Gianforte said. “The agency limited public comment to a single, virtual event in the middle of haying season, ignored repeated requests from state officials for full public engagement, and failed to analyze the full range of impacts of its proposal, which it lacks the statutory authority to enact. The State will consider next steps after a thorough review of BLM’s decision.”
Last September, Gov. Gianforte and leaders from the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks, Department of Agriculture, and Department of Livestock raised their concerns in public comment to the agency.
