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Volume 2 - July 2018
Below is a summary of June and July 2018 Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) updates for the National Bison Range Complex. Please visit the National Bison Range Complex CCP website for more information about any of the topics covered and email us at scoping_NBR@fws.gov with any questions. Thank you!
 A bison calf on the National Bison Range in Montana by Dave Fitzpatrick/USFWS
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) recently revised the timeline for the National Bison Range Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) and environmental impact statement (EIS). The Service plans to release the draft CCP/EIS in late November 2018 and finalize the CCP/EIS by late April 2019 to streamline the process and comply with Secretarial Order 3355. Please visit the National Bison Range CCP website for a detailed overview of the current planning schedule under the “In-Progress Plan Status: National Bison Range” tab.
The Secretary of the Interior recently issued additional guidance for all Department of the Interior (Department) projects with an EIS started before Secretarial Order 3355 (“Streamlining National Environmental Reviews and Implementation of Executive Order 13807”) issued in 2017. This additional guidance from the Department clarifies that all projects with an EIS that began before Secretarial Order 3355 must now be completed by April 27, 2019 and be less than 150 pages. This guidance applies to the CCP/EIS for the National Bison Range.
Streamlining the CCP/EIS process will enable the National Bison Range to complete a CCP and begin its implementation sooner than previously planned. It also ensures the Service’s focus is on the highest priorities and most substantive issues affecting Refuge management. The streamlined EIS requirements in Secretarial Order 3355 will result in a more concise and user-friendly document for the public and Refuge staff.
The Service opened a public comment period for the draft Vision, Goals, and Alternatives for the Refuge Complex from April 25 through May 25, 2018. We held four public meetings in Montana:
- Two all-day open houses: one at Lost Trail National Wildlife Refuge headquarters (May 8) and one at the National Bison Range Visitor Center (May 11);
- Two evening open houses: one in Kalispell (May 9) and one in Charlo (May 10)
Through conversations at the public meetings and written comments, the Service received valuable feedback on the draft Vision, Goals, and Alternatives for the Refuge Complex. Comments received are available on the National Bison Range CCP website under the “Documents” tab. A brief summary is provided below.
Comments on the draft Vision and Goals were generally supportive. For the draft Alternatives, it was suggested that the Service should be more specific to the unique resources of individual Refuge Complex units. Commenters expressed concern that while including Alternative A (No Action) is necessary for completeness, it needs to include a discussion of the challenges the current budget creates for infrastructure, programs, and staffing. Comments received for Alternative B acknowledged that public support is important to the Refuge; some expressed concern that Alternative B may not support optimal management of the individual Refuge Complex units. For Alternatives C and D, several commenters noted the importance of sustainability, connectivity, and healthy ecosystems as well as the persistence of individual species. It was suggested that Alternatives C and D have similarities and complementary aspects that may warrant combining them. Many commenters supported the concepts of partnership and collaboration in Alternative E, while some cautioned against creating additional administrative burdens. There were also several specific items suggested as additions within the draft Alternatives that the Service will evaluate, such as increased public uses (e.g. bird watching, hunting, public access, group trail rides), increased interpretation for Glacial Lake Missoula, and additional ideas for invasive species control.
Commenters suggested other Alternatives, including "A Balanced Approach to Management Direction" which harnesses the best strategies of all the draft Alternatives. Several commenters suggested other Alternatives with higher levels of staffing and funding, including the “National Bison Range Complex Restoration” alternative based on prior staffing levels and operation of the Refuge Complex. Concerns about the planning process - including pre-planning, outreach efforts, and inadequate resources - were also noted.
The Planning Team has reviewed these comments and used the input to revise the Alternatives for the draft CCPs. The Planning Team consists of Service staff from the National Bison Range Complex and the Regional Office as well as: representatives from the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes; Lake and Sanders Counties; Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks; and the Bureau of Indian Affairs. All public comments will also be used, as appropriate, to help the Planning Team develop draft Objectives and Strategies for each Alternative and to evaluate the environmental impacts of the Alternatives. The Planning Team met to begin developing these draft Objectives and Strategies for each of the draft Alternatives for the National Bison Range in June.
After these steps are complete, the results of this work will be incorporated into the draft CCP/EIS for the National Bison Range and the draft CCP/EA for the other five Refuge Complex units. Once these are ready, the Service will again hold public meetings and make those draft CCPs and NEPA documents available for public review and comment.
 A bison at National Bison Range in Montana by USFWS
The Service maintains and frequently updates a website devoted entirely to the CCP planning process and associated NEPA documents for all units in the Refuge Complex. The website also provides contact information and allows visitors to sign up for postal mail and/or email updates. It can be accessed by visiting: https://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/refuges/nbrc.php
Next
Steps
The Planning Team will move forward over the next several months to complete the following:
- July and August: The Planning Team will assess the environmental impacts of the draft Alternatives for the National Bison Range
- Second week in August: The Planning Team will review the results of the impacts analysis
 Batavia Batavia Waterfowl Production Area (WPA) in the Northwest Montana Flathead County Wetland Management District in Montana by USFWS
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Visit the planning website for information
- Tell us what you think via email
- Look for announcements in the media
Contact Information
Bernardo Garza and Vanessa Fields, Planning
Team Leaders
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Division of Refuge Planning
P.O. Box 25486
Denver, CO 80225-0486
Email: bernardo_garza@fws.gov or
vanessa_fields@fws.gov
Phone: (Bernardo) 303-236 4377; (Vanessa) 406-217 6473
Fax: 303-236-4792
National Bison Range
Refuge Complex Comprehensive Conservation Plan
Address: 58355
Bison Range Rd, Charlo, MT 59824
Phone: 406 -644-2211
Fax: 406-644-2661
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