On BLM's Decision Making Process

I want to inform all of our readers that it is the intent of the Glasgow Courier to take the Bureau of Land Management to task over their decision making process for the American Prairie Reserve’s request to remove interior fencing and graze bison year-round. The story you see this week will not be the end of our questioning of how the BLM is making its decision.

The public comment in this paper and other forums around the Hi-Line speak for themselves that this issue has been charged with fear, polarization and muddied by bureaucratic procedures. It is our intent to clarify those decision making processes and determine the reasoning behind considering APR’s request under an environmental assessment and not an environmental impact statement.

I want to reassure all of you that we are following up and looking into this process and the conclusions it may or may not reach to better inform all of you. This is obviously a matter of great importance to Montana’s livestock industry, and needs to be presented as clearly and concisely as possible in the public’s view by all parties involved. Thank you.

Sincerely,

A.J. Etherington