(Helena) – On Friday the United States Bureau of Land Management rescinded seven leases the American Prairie Reserve has in Phillips County.
Governor Greg Gianforte in a press release said this about the BLM decision. “This final decision is a victory for the rule of law and the generations of Montanans who have stewarded our lands with care,” Gov. Gianforte said. He continues “I’m proud of our administration for leading the fight to reach this decision and I thank Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum and BLM for putting Montanans first.”
The decision marks a significant victory for agricultural producers and rural communities across Montana and the United States, reversing a prior federal authorization that allowed APR to graze non-production bison on over 63,000 acres of federal public lands. The final decision rescinds APR’s bison grazing authorizations, issues cattle only permits where appropriate, and provides for an orderly transition period for the removal of bison from public lands by Sept. 30, 2026
