HELENA, Mont. (NMB) – Governor Greg Gianforte is calling on the Bureau of Land Management to expand the public comment process on a proposal that calls for bison grazing on over 69,000 land in Phillips County for 10 years.
The BLM recently stated in the draft environmental assessment that there is not believed to be any significant environmental impact due to the proposal, which would allow for the American Prairie Reserve to hold bison grazing on public lands in Phillips County where they have federal leases.
A virtual public meeting is scheduled for July 21st, and the comment period is expected to run through August 29th, but Gianforte says he would like to see a longer comment period and in-person public meetings.
Gianforte also says that the public comment period overlaps with hay and harvest season, and says many farmers and ranchers do not always have access to the internet.
He is calling for a 45-day-extension to the comment period, and for in-person meetings in Chouteau, Valley, Phillips, Fergus and Petroleum Counties.
The BLM is expected to make a final grazing decision at the conclusion of the comment period and after a Final Environmental Assessment is released.
