--- begin forwarded text X-Sender: [log in to unmask] Date: Thu, 4 May 2000 15:06:47 -0600 To: "Stop the Slaughter" <[log in to unmask]> From: Buffalo Folks <[log in to unmask]> Subject: Take Action to Protect Yellowstone's Wild Buffalo, Threatened Bald Eagles Sender: <[log in to unmask]> MONTANA DEPARTMENT OF LIVESTOCK ILLEGALLY JEOPARDIZES THREATENED BALD EAGLES US FOREST SERVICE FAILS TO PROTECT PUBLIC LANDS ON THE GALLATIN FOREST PLEASE TAKE ACTION TODAY TO PROTECT YELLOWSTONE'S WILD BUFFALO HERD! On April 20, 2000 the Montana Department of Livestock illegally used a helicopter to haze Yellowstone buffalo, including pregnant cows, near Horse Butte on the Gallatin National Forest. This action blatantly violated the terms and conditions of their Special Use Permit intended to protect nesting bald eagles in the Horse Butte area and the Gallatin Forest's general closure order of Horse Butte to "all activities". This is the third incident in successive years where the Montana Department of Livestock has violated the terms and conditions of their Special Use Permit authorizing buffalo capture and hazing activities on the Gallatin National Forest. On April 28, 1998 a Montana Department of Livestock helicopter used to haze buffalo violated the bald eagle closure on Horse Butte on two occasions. A year later, on March 31, 1999, the Montana Department of Livestock illegally hazed buffalo using snowmobiles within 1/4 mile of the Madison Arm of Hebgen Lake. Horse Butte is prime calving habitat for the Yellowstone buffalo, as the peninsula has south facing slopes that green up early in the spring. An incredible diversity of plant and wildlife species, and habitat types, is nourished on the peninsula. Hebgen Lake and riparian wetlands along the Madison River provide habitat for trumpeter swans, sandhill cranes, bald eagles, peregrine falcons and moose. Sagebrush, native grasses, and wildflowers dot the meadows. The butte is speckled with old-growth trees. East of the butte lies burnt and downed lodgepole for pine marten and woodpeckers. The Environmental Assessment prepared by the U.S. Forest Service in 1998 to authorize the construction and operation of the Horse Butte capture facility and related buffalo management activities did not consider the environmental impacts of the use of helicopters on Horse Butte. In fact, the Special Use Permit prohibits helicopters from Horse Butte to protect three bald eagle nests. Because the U.S. Forest Service has failed to enforce the Special Use Permit terms and conditions for buffalo hazing requirements, including compliance checks, and taking appropriate actions for violations as required by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Biological Opinion, they are in violation of the Endangered Species Act. Please take action today and request that Dave Garber, Forest Supervisor for the Gallatin National Forest: 1. Prohibit the Montana Department of Livestock from taking any action, including hazing or shooting, against any buffalo on the Gallatin National Forest until June 1, 2000. This should provide sufficient time for the buffalo, and their new calves, to move back into Yellowstone Park on their own. If the Montana Department of Livestock intends to haze buffalo back into Yellowstone National Park on or after June 1, 2000, the U.S. Forest Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service must make personnel available to observe the operation to ensure that the Montana Department of Livestock is complying with all terms and conditions of the Special Use Permit and the biological opinion. 2. Revoke the authorization for the construction and operation of the buffalo capture facility and other buffalo management activities, including hazing, on the Gallatin National Forest. The U.S. Forest Service has the authority under Section V, B to suspend or revoke the Montana Department of Livestock's Special Use Permit if: (1) there is non-compliance with federal, state, or local laws and regulations; (2) there is non-compliance with the terms and conditions of the permit; (3) for reasons in the public interest. Additionally, Section VII, E gives the U.S. Forest Service authority to suspend the Special Use Permit "in whole or in part for breach of any stipulation ..." 3. Prepare a legally sufficient Environmental Impact Statement, prohibit the shooting, capture, or hazing of buffalo within the Gallatin National Forest from November 1 through June 1. Please copy (cc) your letter, fax or email to Dale Bosworth, Region 1 Forester and Mike Dombeck, Chief; Forest Service: Please note that letters and calls are better than emails but any well thought comments will help the buffalo! Dave Garber, Forest Supervisor, Gallatin National Forest 10 E. Babcock Avenue P.O Box 130 Bozeman, MT 59771 phone: (406) 587-6702 fax: (406) 587-6758 [log in to unmask] Dale Bosworth, Regional Forester, Region 1 Federal Building P.O. Box 7669 Missoula, MT 59807 phone: (406) 329-3316 fax: (406) 329-3347 [log in to unmask] Mike Dombeck, Chief, U.S. Forest Service Auditor's Bldg 201 14th Street S.W. at Independence Ave., S.W. Washington, DC 20024 phone: (202) 205-1661 fax: (202) 205-1765 [log in to unmask] Thank you! Darrell Geist Executive Director Cold Mountain, Cold Rivers PO Box 7941; Missoula, Montana USA 59807 406-728-0867 phone; 406-327-1209 fax [log in to unmask]; http://www.wildrockies.org/cmcr PS. Please contact us if you would like some background information on the incredible waste of taxpayers dollars in regards to this issue. mailto:[log in to unmask] or mailto:[log in to unmask] Schedule a showing of the Buffalo Compilation Video in your community. for more info: mailto:[log in to unmask] Let us know at mailto:[log in to unmask] if you will be showing it in your community and if you need newsletters to distribute... Thanks! ___________________________________________________________ New info on the plight of the last wild buffalo: http://www.wildrockies.org/buffalo BFC is the only group working 365 days a year in Yellowstone with the buffalo. Which T-shirt do you like the best? - http://www.wildrockies.org/buffalo/teez.html --- end forwarded text -- ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Rex L. Bavousett Photographer University of Iowa Our old name: University Relations - Publications Our new name: University Communications & Outreach - Publications 100 OPL, Iowa City, IA 52242 http://www.uiowa.edu/~urpubs/ mailto:[log in to unmask] voice: 319 384-0053 fax: 319 384-0055 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^