For the State of Montana and Yellowstone National Park... Responses to Comments on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement... Volume Two... U.S. Department of the Interior

527 Pages·2001·177.6 MB·English

by  Department of the Interior

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for the State of Montana
and Yellowstone National Park
RESPONSES TO COMMENTS
ON THE DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL
IMPACT STATEMENT
| VOLUME TWO
3001-012.2.3 3 [WE
Responses to Substantive Comments on the
Draft Environmental Impact Statement
Purpose and Methodology
The final environmental impact statement is to be an accurate analysis of impacts of the proposed action and its
alternatives. Public and agency review of the draft statement helps to ensure quality.
On June 16, 1998, the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Interagency Bison Management Plan for
the State of Montana and Yellowstone National Park was released for public review in a formal 120-day
comment period. The U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, and the U.S. Department of
Agriculture, Forest Service, are the federal lead agencies. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant
Health Inspection Service (APHIS), is a cooperating agency. The state of Montana was also a lead agency when
the Draft Environmental Impact Statement was released to the public; however, the state’s status has changed,
and they are no longer participating in this capacity (see volume 1, appendix C). Following requests from the
public for more time to review the Draft Environmental Impact Statement, the agencies extended the comment
period until November 3, 1998.
The Draft Environmental Impact Statement examined seven alternatives as a means of minimizing the risk of
transmitting the disease brucellosis from bison to domestic cattle on public and private lands adjacent to
Yellowstone National Park. The comment period generated 67,520 documents from the public, which contained
212,249 individual comments. Comments were received by letter, electronic mail, and verbally at a series of
public hearings held in 13 cities across the United States.
Approximately 64,000 responses were submitted by individuals, 2,400 by organizations, 700 by tribes and tribal
organizations, and the remainder by businesses, public agencies, and congressional representatives. Comments
were received from every state and 48 countries.
Of those comments responding to the range of alternatives presented in the Draft Environmental Impact
Statement, alternative 7 (the draft preferred alternative) received the greatest number (over 25,000) expressing
concern about its proposed bison management actions. Of those commenting on the other draft alternatives, more
concern than support was expressed by the public. There was overwhelming support for a “Citizens’ Plan”
alternative (over 45,000 comments), followed by a “Bison Alternative.” Both alternatives, as well as others
submitted during the comment period, are addressed in volume 1, “The Alternatives.” These issues are
summarized in a report entitled, “Content Analysis of Public Comment for the Interagency Bison Management
Plan for the State of Montana and Yellowstone National Park” (Greystone Environmental Consultants 1999).
At the close of the comment period, the agencies began a content analysis of public responses to the Draft
Environmental Impact Statement. Every document was read and sorted in terms of its subject matter and content.
A number was assigned to each letter, electronic mail document, and verbal testimony given at public hearings.
This number was used for tracking purposes and was entered into a database (the comment numbers are shown
following the name of each responder in the “Index of Comment Letters by Category of Author”). As each
document was read, codes were assigned to categorize the content, topic, and issue of each comment made in the
letter. These codes were also entered into a data base for tracking purposes; they are shown in parentheses after
the topic heading; for example, “Bison: Capture/Test/Slaughter Operations (BI-5).”
After each document was coded, a series of steps were taken to determine whether the individual comment was
substantive or nonsubstantive, according to the criteria set forth in the Council on Environmental Quality
regulations. Substantive comments are those that raise an issue regarding law or regulation, agency procedure or
performance, compliance with stated objectives, validity of impact analyses, or other matters of practical or
procedural importance. Nonsubstantive comments are those that offered opinions or provided information not
RESPONSES TO SUBSTANTIVE COMMENTS ON THE DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT
directly related to issues or impact analyses. Substantive comments require a response or a corresponding
revision in the environmental impact statement text; nonsubstantive comments are used as background
information for the EIS team, but do not require a formal response.
The purpose of reading, coding, and analyzing the contents of the comment letters was to assist the agencies in
determining if the substantive issues raised by the public warranted further modification and study of
alternatives, issues, and impacts. With the information provided through the review process, the agencies
reconsidered the draft preferred alternative (alternative 7) and developed a “modified preferred alternative,” as
described in volume |, “The Alternatives.”
Organization of Comments and Responses
This volume contains a summary of the substantive comments received on the Draft Environmental Impact
Statement, by topic and issue, and the agencies’ responses to those comments. The topics are major headings,
organized alphabetically, with subheadings reflecting the issues that were identified during the public comment
period. These issues are further broken down into specific questions or concerns raised by the public.
Substantive comments were addressed either in the comment and response section, the text of the environmental
impact statement, or both places.
Volume 2 includes a table of contents of each topic and issue to aid the reader in locating a particular issue and
the agencies’ response. An “Index of Comments by Topic” is provided as well as an “Index of Comment Letters
by Category of Author,” organized by businesses; organization and educational institutions; federal, state, and
local officials; and Native American tribes and tribal organizations.
A commenter will be able to find the response to a particular question by consulting the topic, issue, and
subsequent question and answer. In some cases, summaries of the agencies’ responses have been integrated into
volume |. Where applicable, changes to the environmental impact statement text are indicated in the response.
Volume 3 contains an index and copies of comment letters and portions of transcripts received from businesses;
organizations; federal, state, and local officials; and Native American tribes and tribal organizations. Due to the
number of individuals who commented on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement, their names have not been
included in volume 3, but are available upon request.
Index of Comment Letters by Category of Author
Business Comment Letters
Abrahams, Loewenstein, Bushman and Kauffman — and Policy Mandates — Management
3910. Alternatives: Citizens’ Plan. Objectives Authority.
and Constraints: Legal and Policy Mandates — Ayers Northwest — 9056. Visitor Use: Winter
Management Authority. Recreation.
Adventurer Tours — 13442. Bison: Distribution Ayurvedic Rehabilitation Center — 753. Bison:
(Live), Effects on Free-Ranging Status and Capture/Test/Slaughter Operations, Brucellosis
Distribution, Brucellosis in Yellowstone Bison Transmission and Public Perception. Livestock
Herd, Brucellosis Transmission and Public Operations: Public Grazing Allotments —
Perception. Livestock Operations: Public Modify. Objectives and Constraints: Legal and
Grazing Allotments — Modify. Wildlife: Policy Mandates— Management Authority.
Brucellosis in Other Wild Ungulates. Visitor Use: Winter Recreation.
All Aboard Travel — 7561. Alternatives: Citizens’ Backyard Designs — 1434. Alternatives: Citizens’
Plan. Bison: Effects on Free-Ranging Status and Plan. Bison: Capture/Test/Slaughter Operations,
Distribution. Distribution (Live), Hunting, Population,
Allen, Jack, Attorney at Law — 11097. Bison: Special Management Areas, Land Acquisitions/
Distribution (Live), Hunting, Land Easements or Winter Range. Livestock
Acquisitions/Easements or Winter Range. Operations: Public Grazing Allotments —
Socioeconomics: Reasonable Project Costs. Modify, Cattle Vaccination.
Visitor Use: Winter Recreation. Baker Animal Hospital — 8926. Alternatives:
Alpine Environmental, Inc. — 9079. Alternatives: Citizens’ Plan. Bison: Distribution (Live),
Citizens’ Plan. Bison: Capture/Test/Slaughter Effects on Free-Ranging Status and
Operations, Distribution (Live), Effects on Free- Distribution, Population, Special Management
Ranging Status and Distribution, Land Areas, Land Acquisitions/Easements or Winter
Acquisitions/Easements or Winter Range. Range. Livestock Operations: Cattle
Livestock Operations: Public Grazing Vaccination.
Allotments — Modify. Objectives and Baldwin Realty — 705. Bison: Effects on Free-
Constraints: Legal and Policy Mandates — Ranging Status and Distribution, Population,
Management Authority. Socioeconomics: Land Acquisitions/Easements or Winter Range.
Social Values. Visitor Use: Overall Visitor Use Livestock Operations: Public Grazing
and Exp erience. Allotments — Modify.
Andersons Arsenal — 2563. Alternatives: Citizens’ Blaise Hayward Studio — 9413. Alternatives: Bison
Plan. Bison: Capture/Test/Slaughter Operations, Alternative. Bison: Capture/Test/Slaughter
Distribution (Live), Hunting, Population, Operations, Humane Treatment, Hunting,
Special Management Areas, Land Acquisitions/ Quarantine Operations, Vaccination.
Easements or Winter Range. Livestock Blue Water Publishing, Inc. — 10530. Alternatives:
Operations: Public Grazing Allotments — Alternative Plan B. Bison: Capture/Test/
Modify, Cattle Vaccination. Slaughter Operations.
Architectural Illustration — 14368. Sociceconomics: Boesche, McDermott and Eskridge — 6201.
Social Values. Visitor Use: Overall Visitor Use Alternatives: Citizens’ Plan. Bison:
and Experience. Capture/Test/Slaughter Operations, Effects on
Artistic Features Art Studio — 6152. Bison: Capture/ Free-Ranging Status and Distribution, Humane
Test/Slaughter Operations. Livestock Treatment. Socioeconomics: Social Values.
Operations: Public Grazing Allotments — Boocks Farm — 16778. Bison: Capture/Test/
Modify. Slaughter Operations, Effects on Free-Ranging
Aspen Trading Post — 11902. Alternatives: Citizens’ Status and Distribution, Brucellosis
Plan. Bison: Effects on Free-Ranging Status and Transmission and Public Perception.
Distribution. Socioeconomics: Cost to Livestock Operators.
Audio Press — 14438. Alternatives: Citizens’ Plan. Bracer Consulting — 13417. Alternatives: New
Bison: Effects on Free-Ranging Status and Alternatives/Issues.
Distribution. Objectives and Constraints: Legal
RESPONSES TO SUBSTANTIVE COMMENTS ON THE DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT
Bruce Jackson Photography — 3795. Alternatives: and Policy Mandates — Management
New Allternatives/Issues. Bison: Capture/Test/ Authority. Socioeconomics: Social Values.
Slaughter Operations, Distribution (Live), Land Daniel C. Hughes, Jr., Investment Properties
Acquisitions/Easements or Winter Range. 10240. Alternatives: Citizens’ Plan. Bison:
Objectives and Constraints: Legal and Policy Distribution (Live), Effects on Free-Ranging
Mandates —- Management Authority. Visitor Status and Distribution, Population, Special
Use: Overall Visitor Use and Experience. Management Areas, Land Acquisitions/
C. W. Roders Enterprises —- 3022. Alternatives: Easements or Winter Range. Livestock
Citizens’ Plan. Bison: Capture/Test/Slaughter Operations: Cattle Vaccination.
Operations, Distribution (Live), Hunting, David L. Bourgoin Law Offices —- 4104.
Population, Special Management Areas, Land Alternatives: Citizens’ Plan. Bison: Capture
Acquisitions/Easements or Winter Range. /Test/Slaughter Operations. Objectives and
Livestock Operations: Public Grazing Constraints: Legal and Policy Mandates —
Allotments —- Modify, Cattle Vaccination. Management Authority. Socioeconomics:
Calvary Cemetery — 8066. Alternatives: Citizens’ Minority and Low-Income Populations.
Plan. David Spagat, Ltd. — 8011. Alternatives: Citizens’
Cambata Aviation Inc. — 6015. Alternatives: Plan. Bison: Capture/Test/Slaughter Operations,
Citizens’ Plan. Brucellosis Transmission and Public Perception.
Cefali and Cefali Attorneys at Law — 1690. Dawson Medical Group — 4408. Alternatives:
Alternatives: Citizens’ Plan. Bison: Capture/ Citizens’ Plan. Bison: Distribution (Live).
Test/Slaughter Operations, Distribution (Live), Objectives and Constraints: Legal and Policy
Hunting, Land Acquisitions/Easements or Mandates — Management Authority.
Winter Range. Objectives and Constraints: Diamond K Outfitters, Inc. — 10722. Alternatives:
Legal and Policy Mandates —- Management Citizens’ Plan. Bison: Capture/Test/Slaughter
Authority. Operations. Livestock Operations: Public
City Living Realtors -—- 7858. Alternatives: Citizens’ Grazing Allotments — Modify, Cattle
Plan. Bison: Distribution (Live), Effects un Vaccination. Socioeconomics: Reasonable
Free-Ranging Status and Distribution, Project Costs.
Population. Legal and Policy Mandates — Direct Response — 3822. Alternatives: Citizens’
Management Authority. Socioeconomics: Plan. Bis on: Brucellosis Transmission and
Social Values. Visitor Use: Overall Visitor Use Public Perception. Objectives and Constraints:
and Experience. Legal and Policy Mandates — Management
Coffee Shaman — 794. Alternatives: Citizens’ Plan. Authority.
Bison: Capture/Test/Slaughter Operations, Don Devine’s Studio — 7731. Alternatives: Bison
Distribution (Live), Hunting, Land Alternative. Bison: Capture/Test/Slaughter
Acquisitions/Easements or Winter Range. Operations, Humane Treatment, Hunting,
Objectives and Constraints: Legal and Policy Quarantine Operations, Vaccination.
Mandates — Management Authority Double Spear Ranch — 9063. Alternatives: Citizens’
Compassionate Creations — 498. Bison: Capture/ Plan. Bison: Distribution (Live), Effects on
Test/Slaughter Operations, Humane Treatment, Free-Ranging Status and Distribution,
Hunting, Quarantine Operations, Brucellosis Population, Special Management Areas, Land
Transmission and Public Perception. Livestock Acquisitions/Easements or Winter Range.
Operations: Public Grazing Allotments — Livestock Operations: Cattle Vaccination.
modify, Cattie Vaccination. Visitor Use: Winter EB3 Ranch — 1722. Alternatives: Citizens’ Plan.
Recreation. Bison: Distribution (Live), Effects on Free-
Coyote Creek Photography — 1786. Alternatives: Ranging Status and Distribution, Population,
Citizens’ Plan. Socioeconomics: Social Values. Special Management Areas, Land Acquisitions/
Crabtree Ridge Farm — 16577. Bison: Capture/ Easements or Winter Range. Livestock
Test/Slaughter Operations, Distribution (Live), Operations: Cattle Vaccination.
Effects on Free-Ranging Status and Ecological Consulting Services — 13073. Bison:
Distribution, Land Acquisitions/Easements or Capture/Test/Slaughter Operations, Effects on
Winter Range Free-Ranging Status and Distribution, Hunting.
D. Lindsay Pettus Real Estate — 7034. Alternatives: Livestock Operations: Public Grazing
Citizens’ Plan. Bison: Capture/Test/Slaughter Allotments — Modify.
Operations. Objectives and Constraints: Legal
Index of Comment Letters by Category of Author
Family Medicine — 7755. Alternatives: Citizens’ Cost to Livestock Operators. Wildlife:
Plan. Bison: Distribution (Live), Effects on Brucellosis in Other Wild Ungulates.
Free-Ranging Status and Distribution, Hunting, Hakansson, Carl G., Attorney at Law — 1905.
Population, Special Management Areas, Land Alternatives: New Alternatives/Issues. Bison:
Acquisitions/Easements or Winter Range. Bison — Vaccination, Livestock Operations:
Livestock Operations: Public Grazing Public Grazing Allotments — Modify, Cattle
Allotments — Modify, Cattle Vaccination. Vaccination. Objectives and Constraints: Legal
Objectives and Constraints: Legal and Policy and Policy Mandates — Management
Mandates — Management Authority. Authority. Socioeconomics: Cost to Livestock
Socioeconomics: Social Values. Wildlife: Operators. Visitor Use: Winter Recreation.
Predators and Scavengers/Ungulates. Haney Truck Line, Inc. — 9030, “031. Alternatives:
FaunaWest Wildlife Consultants — 10656. Bison: Citizens’ Plan. Bison: Effects on Free-Ranging
Capture/Test/Slaughter Operations, Distribution Status and Distribution, Brucellosis
(Live), Humane Treatment, Population, Transmission and Public Perception. Livestock
Quarantine Operations, Brucellosis in Other Operations: Public Grazing Allotments —
Wild Ungulates. Livestock Operations: Public Modify. Objectives and Constraints: Legal and
Grazing Allotments — Modify. Policy Mandates — Management Authority.
First Alabama Bank of Birmingham — 262. Bison: Socioeconomics: Benefit and Cost Impacts,
Effects on Free-Ranging Status and Nonmarket Values, Reasonable Project Costs.
Distribution, Land Acquisitions/Easements or Heartland Realty Investors, Inc. — 8320.
Winter Range. Alternatives: Citizens’ Plan. Bison: Distribution
Georgia Surgical Associates, P.C. — 6623. (Live), Effects on Free-Ranging Status and
Alternatives: Citizens’ Plan. Bison: Distribution Distribution, Population, Special Management
(Live), Effects on Free-Ranging Status and Areas, Land Acquisitions/Easements or Winter
Distribution, Land Acquisitions/Easements or Range. Livestock Operations: Cattle
Winter Range. Objectives and Constraints: Vaccination.
Legal and Policy Mandates — Management Herbst Lazy TY Cattle Co. — 17856. Bison: Effects
Authority. on Free-Ranging Status and Distribution,
Geyser Gazette — 14367. Bison: Capture/Test/ Population, Special Management Areas,
Slaughter Operations, Distribution (Live), Brucellosis in Yellowstone Bison Herd, Land
Effects on Free-Ranging Status and Acquisitions/Easements or Winter Range.
Distribution, Humane Treatment. Wildlife: Socioeconomics: Benefit and Cost Impacts,
Brucellosis in Other Wild Ungulates. Cost to Livestock Operators.
Goldstar Jewellery Pvt. Ltd. — 4536. Bison: Capture/ Hogue’s Ravenoak — 10715. Alternatives: Citizens’
Test/Slaughter Operations, Hunting. Plan. Bison: Capture/Test/Slaughter Operations,
Socioeconomics: Social Values. Distribution (Live). Objectives and Constraints:
H. F. Magnuson Company — 458. Bison: Capture/ Legal and Policy Mandates — Management
Test/Slaughter Operations, Population, Ecology, Authority.
Brucellosis Transmission and Public Perception. Holmhaven — 2788. Alternatives: Citizens’ Plan.
Livestock Operations: Cattle — Brucellosis Bison: Effects on Free-Ranging Status and
Class-Free Status. Objectives and Constraints: Distribution, Brucellosis Transmission and
Legal and Policy Mandates — Management Public Perception.
Authority. Indigo Girls — 14205. Alternatives: New
Hagenbarth Livestock — 10638. Alternatives: New Alternatives/Issues. Bison: Capture/Test/
Alternatives/Issues. Bison: Capture/Test/ Slaughter Operations, Hunting, Quarantine
Slaughter Operations, Distribution (Live), Operations, Ecology, Brucellosis Transmission
Population, Special Management Areas, and Public Perception. Livestock Operations:
Vaccination, Brucellosis in Yellowstone Bison Public Grazing Allotments — modify, Cattle
Herd, Brucellosis Transmission and Public Vaccination. Cultural Resources: Archeology/
Perception, Brucellosis Risk Management, Cultural Landscapes/Ethnography. Objectives
Vegetation/Vegetative Communities. Livestock and Constraints: Legal and Policy Mandates —
Operations: Cattle — Brucellosis Class-Free Management Authority. Socioeconomics:
Status. Objectives and Constraints: Legal and Reasonable Project Costs. Wildlife: Threatened
Policy Mandates — Management Authority. and Endangered Species.
Socioeconomics — Benefit and Cost Impacts,
RESPONSES TO SUBSTANTIVE COMMENTS ON THE DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT
Jack Atcheson and Sons, Inc. — 3627. Bison: Management Authority. Socioeconomics: Cost
Hunting. Visitor Use: Winter Recreation. to Livestock Operators.
Jessie M. Harris, Flower and Nature Photography Lichtenfeld, Mark, Attorney at Law — 751. Bison:
7373. Alternatives: Citizens’ Plan, Bison: Capture/Test/Slaughter Operations, Brucellosis
Capture/Test/Slaughter Operations, Hunting, Transmission and Public Perception. Livestock
Brucellosis Transmission and Public Perception. Operations: Cattle Vaccination. Objectives and
Livestock Operations: Cattle Vaccination. Constraints: Legal and Policy Mandates
Wildlife: Brucellosis in Other Wild Ungulates. Management Authority. Visitor Use —- Winter
Keenan Ranch -— 9111. Bison: Population, Property Recreation,
Damage, Special Management Areas, Light Touch Chiropractic — 5682. Bison:
Brucellosis Transmission and Public Perception. Distribution (Live), Land Acquisitions/
Socioeconomics: Reasonable Project Costs. Easements or Winter Range. Livestock
Kelly, Hart and Hallman — 8158. Alternatives: Operations: Public Grazing Allotments
Bison Alternative. Bison: Capture/Test/ Modify,
Slaughter Operations, Humane Treatment, Lockwood Properties Trust — 9649. Alternatives:
Hunting, Quarantine Operations, Vaccination, Citizens’ Plan. Bison: Distribution (Live),
Land Acquisitions/Easements or Winter Range. Effects on Free-Ranging Status and
Livestock Operations: Public Grazing Distribution, Population, Land Acquisitions/
Allotments ——- Modify. Socioeconomics: Cost to Easements or Winter Range. Objectives and
Livestock Operators. Visitor Use: Winter Constraints: Legal and Policy Mandates —
Recreation. Management Authority.
King Ranch —- 8829. Bison: Brucellosis in Lone Wolf Services —- 15728. Alternatives: Citizens’
Yellowstone Bison Herd. Socioeconomics: Cost Plan. Bison: Capture/Test/Slaughter Operations,
to Livestock Operators. Brucellosis Transmission and Public Perception.
Kokopelli Books — 3339. Bison: Land Acquisitions/ Lortz Manufacturing Company — 2861.
Easements or Winter Range. Livestock Alternatives: Citizens’ Plan. Bison: Capture/
Operations: Public Grazing Allotments — Test/Slaughter Operations, Distribution (Live),
modify. Objectives and Constraints; Legal and Hunting, Population, Special Management
Policy Mandates -- Management Authority. Areas, Land Acquisitions/Easements or Winter
Socioeconomics: Cost io Livestock Operators, Range. Livestock Operations: Public Grazing
Reasonable Project Costs. Visitor Use: Overall Allotments — Modify, Cattle Vaccination.
Visitor Use and Experience. Mariposa Mobile Veterinary Service —— 15729.
LaCrosse Associates — 13033a. Alternatives: Brucellosis — Transmission and Public
Alternative Plan B. Bison: Capture/Test/ Perception, Citizens’ Plan, Objectives and
Slaughter Operations, Quarantine Operations, Constraints: Legal and Policy Mandates -—
Vaccination. Livestock Operations: Public Management Authority.
Grazing Allotments — Modify, Cattle Meagher County News — 15377. Alternatives:
Vaccination. Socioeconomics: Reasonable Citizens’ Plan. Bison: Hunting, Population,
Project Costs. Vegetation/Vegetative Communities. Objectives
Lake Area Hamilton Stores — 6332. Alternatives: and Constraints: Legal and Policy Mandates -—
Citizens’ Plan. Bison: Land Acquisitions/ Management Authority. Socioeconomics:
Easements or iWn ter Range. Livestock Social Values.
Operations: Public Grazing Allotments — Metrics Unlimited Inc. -— 3087. Alternatives:
Modify, Cattle Vaccination. Citizens’ Plan. Bison: Capture/Test/Slaughter
Lance W. Holter, Real Estate and Construction — Operations, Distribution (Live), Huntinz ,
9439. Alternatives: Citizens’ Plan. Population, Special Management Areas, Land
Leonard, Street and Deinard — 9801. Alternatives: Acquisitions/Easements or Winter Range.
Citizens’ Plan. Bison: Capture/Test/Slaughter Livestock Operations: Public Grazing
Operations, Distribution (Live), Effects on Free- Allotments -- Modify, Cattle Vaccination.
Ranging Status and Distribution, Hunting, Microban Products Company -- 7014. Alternatives:
Population, Property Damage, Special Citizens’ Plan. Bison: Distribution (Live),
Management Areas, Land Acquisitions/ Effects on Free-Ranging Status and
Easements or Winter Range. Livestock Distribution, Land Acquisitions/Easements or
Operations: Cattle Vaccination. Objectives and Winter Range. Objectives and Constraints:
Constraints: Legal and Policy Mandates —
Index of Comment Letters by Category of Author
Legal and Policy Mandates — Management Northfork Ranch — 2530. Alternatives: Citizens’
Authority. Plan. Bison: Effects on Free-Ranging Status and
Mills, Sherman, Gilliam, and Goodwin, P.S.C. — Distribution. Objectives and Constraints: Legal
6931. Alternatives: Citizens’ Plan. Bison: and Policy Mandates — Management
Effects on Free-Ranging Status and Authority.
Distribution, Population, Special Management Northwest BuildNet, Internet Marketing — 16852.
Areas. Livestock Operations: Cattle Bison: Capture/Test/Slaughter Operations,
Vaccination. Socioeconomics: Cost to Distribution (Live), Effects on Free-Ranging
Livestock Operators, Reasonable Project Costs. Status and Distribution, Land Acquisitions/
Montana International Incorporated — 15252. Bison: Easements or Winter Range. Objectives and
Capture/Test/Slaughter Operations, Brucellosis Constraints: Legal and Policy Mandates —
Transmission and Public Perception. Objectives Management Authority.
and Constraints: Legal and Policy Mandates — NovelTech Inc. — 4764. Alternatives: Citizens’ Plan.
Management Authority. Visitor Use: Overall Bison: Distribution (Live), Effects on Free-
Visitor Use and Experience. Ranging Status and Distribution.
Montana Livestock Ag Credit, Inc. — 2740. Bison: Pain Relief Center — 9543. Bison: Population.
Distribution (Live), Population, Quarantine Objectives and Constraints: Legal and Policy
Operations, Vaccination, Brucellosis Mandates — Management Authority. Visitor
Transmission and Public Perception. Objectives Use: Overall Visitor Use and Experience,
and Constraints: Legal and Policy Mandates — Winter Recreation.
Management Authority. Socioeconomics: Cost Patino-Treat and Rosen, Attorneys at Law — 9144.
to Livestock Operators. Visual Resources: Alternatives: New Alternatives/Issues, Bison
Landscapes and Viewsheds. Wildlife: Predators Alternative. Bison: Distribution (Live), Effects
and Scavengers/Ungulates on Free-Ranging Status and Distribution,
Moore and McFadden, Chartered — 14978. NEPA: Hunting, Population, Quarantine Operations,
New Alternatives/Issues. Visitor Use: Winter Brucellosis Testing, Brucellosis Transmission
Recreation. and Public Perception, Brucellosis Risk
Morgan, Franich, Fredkin, and Marsh — 5989. Management. Human Health: Brucellosis
Bison: Capture/Test/Slaughter Operations, Transmission and Public Perception.
Effects on Free-Ranging Status and Peter H. Dierlich Associates — 3282. Alternatives:
Distribution, Livestock Operations: Public Citizens’ Plan. Bison: Distribution (Live),
Grazing Allotments — Modify. Visitor Use: Effects on Free-Ranging Status and
Overall Visitor Use and Experience. Distribution, Land Acquisitions/Easements or
Morris, Manning and Martin — 1658. Winter Range. Objectives and Constraints:
Socioeconomics: Social Values. Legal and Policy Mandates — Management
Moseley Outdoor Advertising — 7674. Alternatives: Authority. Socioeconomics: Social Values.
Citizens’ Plan. Bison: Capture/Test/Slaughter Planetary Productions, Ltd. — 3916. Alternatives:
Operations, Hunting, Livestock Operations: Citizens’ Plan.
Public Grazing Allotments — Modify. Purdy Ranches — 10100. Bison: Capture/Test/
Objectives and Constraints: Legal and Policy Slaughter Operations, Land Acquisitions/
Mandates — Management Authority. Easements or Winter Range. Livestock
Socioeconomics: Social Values. Operations: Cattle Vaccination. Objectives and
Mundt and Associates — 760. Alternatives: Citizens’ Constraints: Legal and Policy Mandates —
Plan. Bison: Capture/Test/Slaughter Operations, Management Authority. Wildlife: Brucellosis in
Distribution (Live), Hunting, Land Other Wild Ungulates.
Acquisitions/Easements or Winter Range. Quality Transportation Services — 3016.
Objectives and Constraints: Legal and Policy Alternatives: Citizens’ Plan. Bison: Hunting.
Mandates — Management Authority. Objectives and Constraints: Legal and Policy
New Jersey Veterans Memorial Home — 2548. Mandates — Management Authority.
Alternatives: Citizens’ Plan. Bison: Capture/ Socioeconomics: Benefit and Cost Impacts.
Test/Slaughter Operations, Distribution (Live), Rachel Rosenthal Company — 4650. Alternatives:
Land Acquisitions/Easements or Winter Range. Bison Alternative.
Objectives and Constraints: Legal and Policy Rancho San Benito — 5791. Bison: Brucellosis
Mandates — Management Authority. Transmission and Public Perception. Objectives
RESPONSES TO SUBSTANTIVE COMMENTS ON THE DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT
and Constraints: Legal and Policy Mandates — Operations: Public Grazing Allotments —
Management Authority. Modify. Objectives and Constraints: Legal and
Raven Trails — 1303. Bison: Capture/Test/Slaughter Policy Mandates — Management Authority.
Operations, Distribution (Live), Population, Socioeconomics: Benefit and Cost Impacts.
Quarantine Operations, Vaccination, Ecology, Saturday Night and Sunday Morning, Ltd. -— 6406.
Brucellosis Transmission and Public Perception, Alternatives: Bison Alternative.
Land Acquisitions/Easements or Winter Range. Selah Bamberger Ranch — 4037. Alternatives:
Objectives and Constraints: New Alternatives/ Citizens’ Plan, Cultural Resources: Archeology/
Issues, Legal and Policy Mandates — Cultural Landscapes/Ethnography.
Management Authority. Socioeconomics: Socioeconomics: Social Values.
Nonmarket Values, Reasonable Project Costs. Silver Cloud Farm — 8110. Bison: Capture/Test/
Visitor Use: Winter Recreation. Slaughter Operations, Effects on Free-Ranging
Richard Raymond Associates — 14688. Alternatives: Status and Distribution, Humane Treatment,
Alternative Plan B, Bison: Hunting, Ecology. Livestock Operations: Public
Capture/Test/Slaughter Operations, Effects on Grazing Allotments — Modify.
Free-Ranging Status and Distribution, Humane Socioeconomics: Social Values.
Treatment, Hunting, Quarantine Operations, Smith and Doherty, PLLC — 15368. Alternatives:
Vaccination. Livestock Operations: Public Citizens’ Plan. Consultation and Coordination:
Grazing Allotments — Modify, Cattle Archeology/Cultural Resources/Ethnography.
Vaccination. Objectives and Constraints: Legal Cultural Resources: Archeology/Cultural
and Policy Mandates — Management Landscapes/Ethnography. NEPA: New
Authority. Socioeconomics: Reasonable Project Alternatives/Issues. Objectives and Constraints:
Costs. Legal and Policy Mandates — Management
River Bend Ranch — 4868. Alternatives: Citizens’ Authority.
Plan. Bison: Distribution (Live), Effects on Snavely Forest Products — 16797. Alternatives:
Free-Ranging Status and Distribution, Citizens’ Plan. Bison: Capture/Test/Slaughter
Population, Special Management Areas, Land Operations.
-Acquisitions/Easements or Winter Range. Snider Hardwoods — 5120. Alternatives: Citizens’
Livestock Operations: Cattle Vaccination. Plan. Bison: Distribution (Live), Effects on
Rolyboh International, Inc. — 2768. Alternatives: Free-Ranging Status and Distribution, Land
Citizens’ Plan. Bison: Capiure/Test/Slaughter Acquisitions/Easements or Winter Range.
Operations, Distribution (Live), Effects on Free- Objectives and Constraints: Legal and Policy
Ranging Status and Distribution, Hunting, Mandates — Management Authority.
Ecology. Objectives and Constraints: Legal and Spiriti Heart Productions — 15305. Alternatives:
Policy Mandates — Management Authority. Citizens’ Plan. Bison: Land Acquisitions/
Socioeconomics: Benefit and Cost Impacts, Easements or Winter Range.
Cost to Livestock Operators, Social Values. Star B Ranch. See National Bison Association —
Russell Lamb Photography — 4495. Bison: 15187a.
Capture/Test/Slaughter Operations, Hunting, Star Watcher Productions — 6708. Alternatives:
Population, Brucellosis Transmission and Citizens’ Plan. Bison: Land Acquisitions/
Public Perception, Land Acquisitions/ Easements or Winter Range.
Easements or Winter Range. Livestock Stone Orchards — 9392. Bison: Population. Visitor
Operations: Public Grazing Allotments — Use: Winter Recreation.
Modify. Objectives and Constraints: Legal and Taylor, John A., Attorney at Law — 11486.
Policy Mandates — Management Authority. Alternatives: New Alternatives/Issues. Bison:
Visitor Use — Winter Recreation. Population, Ecology, Brucellosis Risk
Santee Cooper — 15870d. Alternatives: Citizens’ Management. Socioeconomics: Benefit and
Plan. Bison: Capture/Test/Slaughter Operations, Cost Impacts, Nonmarket Values, Social
Definition of Low Risk, Distribution (Live), Values. Visitor Use: Overall Visitor Use and
Humane Treatment, Quarantine Operations, Experience. Wildlife: Threatened and
Special Management Areas, Brucellosis Endangered Species.
Transmission and Public Perception, Land TMR Inc. — 17853. Bison: Distribution (Live).
Acquisitions/Easements or Winter Range. Trout Creek Ranch— 1236. Bison: Distribution
Cultural Resources: Archeology/Cultural (Live), Effects on Free-Ranging Status and
Landscapes/Ethnography. Livestock Distribution, Population, Special Management
Index of Comment Letters by Category of Author
Areas, Land Acquisitions/Easements or Winter Special Management Areas. Objectives and
Range. Livestock Operations: Cattle Constraints: Legal and Policy Mandates —
Vaccination. Management Authority.
Upstream Anglers and Outdoor Adventures — 7749. Wisdom House — 1033. Livestock Operations:
Bison: Brucellosis Transmission and Public Cattle Vaccination. Visitor Use: Winter
Perception. Objectives and Constraints: Legal Recreation.
and Policy Mandates — Management WPKR and WPCK Radio — 887. Bison: Effects on
Authority. Socioeconomics: Social Values. Free-Ranging Status and Distribution, Land
Wildlife: Brucellosis in Other Wild Ungulates, Acquisitions/Easements or Winter Range.
Threatened and Endangered Species. Livestock Operations: Public Grazing
Van Hyning and Assoc., Inc. — 7484. Bison: Allotments — Modify. Objectives and
Distribution (Live), Hunting, Land Constraints: Legal and Policy Mandates —
Acquisitions/Easements or Winter Range. Management Authority. Socioeconomics:
Livestock Operations: Cattle Vaccination. Social Values.
Objectives and Constraints: Legal and Policy Yeates, J. William, Attorney at Law — 9702.
Mandates — Management Authority. Alternatives: Citizens’ Plan. Bison:
Wade Gallery — 9858. Alternatives: Citizens’ Plan. Capture/Test/Slaughter Operations, Distribution
Bison: Distribution (Live), Effects on Free- (Live), Effects on Free-Ranging Status and
Ranging Status and Distribution, Population, Distribution, Population, Land
Special Management Areas, Land Acquisitions/ Acquisitions/Easements or Winter Range.
Easements or Winter Range. Livestock Objectives and Constraints: Legal and Policy
Operations: Cattle Vaccination. Mandates — Management Authority.
Wild Birds Unlimited — 12059. Alternatives: Socioeconomics: Social Values. Visitor Use:
Citizens’ Plan. Bison: Distribution (Live), Overall Visitor Use and Experience.
Effects on Free-Ranging Status and Yellowstone Arctic — Yamaha — 14501.
Distribution, Population, Special Management Alternatives: New Alternatives/Issues. Bison:
Areas, Laud Acquisitions/Easements or Winter Population. Socioeconomics: Nonmarket
Range. Livestock Operations: Cattle Values. Visitor Use: Overall Visitor Use and
Vaccination. Experience, Winter Recreation.
William P. Cook and Associates, PLLC — 1081. Yellowstone Tour and Travel. See Moore and
Bison: Distribution (Live), Effects on Free- McFadden, Chartered — 14978
Ranging Status and Distribution, Population,