MALTA, Mont. (NMB) – Numerous Montana Republican elected officials sharply criticized the Biden Administration and the Bureau of Land Management on Thursday after they released the final decision that granted the American Prairie Reserve’s request to allow bison grazing on six of seven of their allotments in Phillips County.
The BLM says the allotments in total cover about 63,500 acres of BLM-administered lands. Most allotments will be managed under a pasture rotation grazing program, according to a press release.
Among those that chastised the BLM were Governor Greg Gianforte, Attorney General Austin Knudsen, and Senator Steve Daines. The trio said they would be closely reviewing their options and believe the issue is far from settled. They also argued that there were not enough opportunities for public comment for those most impacted by the decision.
The BLM says the decision released Thursday initiates a 30-day appeal period.
