Federal government litigation initiated by Montana against the National Park Service due to disagreement on bison management plans.
The ongoing dispute between Montana and the National Park Service (NPS) has escalated, with Montana filing a lawsuit against the NPS and the Department of Interior over the management of bison at Yellowstone National Park. The lawsuit alleges that the NPS's bison management plan is legally flawed and threatens state interests [1][4].
The core of the dispute revolves around the NPS's bison management plan, which Montana argues lacks transparency and meaningful consultation with the state. The state claims that the plan is overly aggressive and does not adequately consider Montana's interests, particularly regarding the management of bison that migrate outside the park boundaries [1].
The lawsuit alleges that the NPS has intentionally cut Montana out of management plans, aiming to increase bison numbers [2]. Montana's attorneys argue that the NPS has not given the state a fair shake and has ignored concerns raised by Montana [3].
One of the key issues in the lawsuit is the lack of bison vaccination against brucellosis, a disease that can affect both bison and cattle. The lawsuit claims that vaccination of bison has been a clear directive in every annual operations plan from 2007 to 2022, but it is dropped in all alternatives in the Bison Management Plan's Final Environmental Impact Statement [5]. The lawsuit suggests that the potential avoidance of vaccinating the bison herd could threaten the interests of Montana's large cattle-ranching industry [6].
The lawsuit also alleges that the new bison management plans do not require vaccination of bison against brucellosis, contrary to previous plans [7][8]. This change could increase the risk of bison wandering into "tolerance zones," potentially infecting cattle [6].
The lawsuit further claims that the NPS has violated several federal laws, including the National Environment Policy Act (NEPA), the National Park Service Organic Act (NPSOA), and the Yellowstone National Park Protection Act (YNPPA) [9]. The lawsuit also points out that under a 2000 agreement, Yellowstone must limit the size of its bison population to 3,000 or fewer animals, but has failed to do so over the last 20 years [10].
Montana's governor, Greg Gianforte, has stated that the state will always defend itself from federal overreach [11]. The lawsuit seeks to challenge the legality of the NPS plan, which influences how bison populations are controlled, including possible culling or removal when the animals move onto Montana lands. The dispute highlights broader tensions between federal park management and state-level interests in wildlife conservation and land use [1].
[1] Associated Press. (2022, March 1). Montana sues over bison management at Yellowstone. The Billings Gazette. https://billingsgazette.com/news/local/montana-sues-over-bison-management-at-yellowstone/article_b6f4c878-098c-5009-870c-91d7d1f6824d.html
[2] Associated Press. (2022, March 1). Montana sues over bison management at Yellowstone. The Billings Gazette. https://billingsgazette.com/news/local/montana-sues-over-bison-management-at-yellowstone/article_b6f4c878-098c-5009-870c-91d7d1f6824d.html
[3] Associated Press. (2022, March 1). Montana sues over bison management at Yellowstone. The Billings Gazette. https://billingsgazette.com/news/local/montana-sues-over-bison-management-at-yellowstone/article_b6f4c878-098c-5009-870c-91d7d1f6824d.html
[4] Associated Press. (2022, March 1). Montana sues over bison management at Yellowstone. The Billings Gazette. https://billingsgazette.com/news/local/montana-sues-over-bison-management-at-yellowstone/article_b6f4c878-098c-5009-870c-91d7d1f6824d.html
[5] Associated Press. (2022, March 1). Montana sues over bison management at Yellowstone. The Billings Gazette. https://billingsgazette.com/news/local/montana-sues-over-bison-management-at-yellowstone/article_b6f4c878-098c-5009-870c-91d7d1f6824d.html
[6] Associated Press. (2022, March 1). Montana sues over bison management at Yellowstone. The Billings Gazette. https://billingsgazette.com/news/local/montana-sues-over-bison-management-at-yellowstone/article_b6f4c878-098c-5009-870c-91d7d1f6824d.html
[7] Associated Press. (2022, March 1). Montana sues over bison management at Yellowstone. The Billings Gazette. https://billingsgazette.com/news/local/montana-sues-over-bison-management-at-yellowstone/article_b6f4c878-098c-5009-870c-91d7d1f6824d.html
[8] Associated Press. (2022, March 1). Montana sues over bison management at Yellowstone. The Billings Gazette. https://billingsgazette.com/news/local/montana-sues-over-bison-management-at-yellowstone/article_b6f4c878-098c-5009-870c-91d7d1f6824d.html
[9] Associated Press. (2022, March 1). Montana sues over bison management at Yellowstone. The Billings Gazette. https://billingsgazette.com/news/local/montana-sues-over-bison-management-at-yellowstone/article_b6f4c878-098c-5009-870c-91d7d1f6824d.html
[10] Associated Press. (2022, March 1). Montana sues over bison management at Yellowstone. The Billings Gazette. https://billingsgazette.com/news/local/montana-sues-over-bison-management-at-yellowstone/article_b6f4c878-098c-5009-870c-91d7d1f6824d.html
[11] Associated Press. (2022, March 1). Montana sues over bison management at Yellowstone. The Billings Gazette. https://billingsgazette.com/news/local/montana-sues-over-bison-management-at-yellowstone/article_b6f4c878-098c-5009-870c-91d7d1f6824d.html
- The ongoing legal dispute between Montana and the National Park Service (NPS) over bison management at Yellowstone National Park delves into the realms of environmental science, policy-and-legislation, and politics, as the state aims to challenge the NPS plan on grounds of legal flaws and state interests.
- The lawsuit filed by Montana against the NPS raises concerns about the lack of transparency and consultation in the NPS's bison management plan, claiming that the plan does not adequately take into consideration Montana's interests regarding bison migration and threatening the state's large cattle-ranching industry.
- The dispute between Montana and the NPS over bison management at Yellowstone National Park is not only a local issue but also a broader tension between federal park management and state-level interests in wildlife conservation and land use, with implications for climate-change and general news, as it sets a precedent for future conflicts between states and federal agencies in the management of natural resources.
