Montana AG asks BLM to scrap APR’s permit change

Montana’s Attorney General, Austin Knudsen, is asking the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) not to modify the grazing change of use permit proposal for the American Prairie Reserve (APR).

Commenting on the BLM’s draft finding of no significant impact (FONSI) and draft environmental assessment (EA), Knudsen spelled out multiple legal issues with BLM’s inadequate review process and APR’s proposal itself.

“Whatever motives APR may harbor, and whatever donors APR may serve, its interests in this change of use permit request run afoul of clear statutory and regulatory guidelines,” Knudsen wrote in his comments. “BLM should scrap the draft FONSI and EA and conduct a more thorough review for the benefit of Montanans and the affected communities.”

Knudsen stated the permit is contrary to the Taylor Grazing Act. APR seeks to change bison to wildlife, not livestock, and “Putting them in a made-up and legally meaningless ‘indigenous livestock’ category undermines the law, hurts the local agricultural economy, and defies logic,” the statement said...MORE