Letter to House Resources Committee Chairman Nick J. Rahall II
Rehberg Requests Federal Investigations into Bison Range Management
Montana's Congressman, Denny Rehberg, today announced he has requested federal investigations regarding the actions and decisions being made on management of the National Bison Range. The National Bison Range is located in northwestern Montana.
"The Bison Range is one of Montana's truly unique areas," said Rehberg, a member of the House Appropriations Committee. "It's vital to ensure the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, and the Department of Interior are all being held accountable for their actions and responsibilities on the Bison Range. These full, fair, and impartial investigations are the first steps in determining how best to manage this precious resource."
In early December, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) ended the Annual Funding Agreement (AFA) with the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes (CSKT) as well as talks regarding an extension of the AFA. FWS alleged that the CSKT was mismanaging the Bison Range, a claim the CSKT has steadfastly denied. However, days before the start of the new year, the Department of Interior (DOI) reversed the decision.
"The lack of communication between the CSKT and the various federal agencies involved regarding decisions being made on the Bison Range is unacceptable," said Rehberg. "I look forward to the findings of these investigations so that we can resolve the serious issues surrounding this important Montana landmark."
Rehberg's letter to the U.S. Government Accountability Office for an investigation:
January 24, 2007
The Honorable David M. Walker
Controller General of the United States
United States Government Accountability Office
441 G Street Northwest
Room 7125
Washington, DC 20548
Dear Mr. Walker,
I am writing to request a Government Accountability Office investigation into the actions that have taken place at the National Bison Range, located in northwestern Montana.
On December 15, 2004, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) and the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes (CSKT) signed an Annual Funding Agreement for the National Bison Range Complex. Under the agreement, CSKT was to perform some of the Fish & Wildlife Service's biology, fire, maintenance and visitor services programs at the Bison Range for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2005 and for Fiscal Year 2006. Last year, the CSKT and FWS engaged in discussions regarding an extension of the funding agreement and an increased management role for the tribe.
However, in early December, these talks and the tribes' role in management of the Bison Range were abruptly ended. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service representatives alleged the CSKT was mismanaging the Bison Range. The CSKT have steadfastly denied the allegations. The allegations included intimidation and harassment by tribal members toward FWS employees and poor care given to their responsibilities toward both the bison and the Bison Range complex.
Then, in late December, the FWS decision was reversed by the Department of Interior (DOI). My office contacted DOI for an explanation of their lack of communication with the tribe or the public with respect to operation at the Bison Range. To date, DOI refuses to respond to my office.
The people of Montana and the employees at the Bison Range, both tribal and non-tribal deserve a full, fair, and impartial investigation into not only FWS's allegations of mismanagement but also DOI's own actions related to the Bison Range.
Please contact Heather Stefanik of my staff at 202-225-3211 for further details. Thank you for your time and I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Sincerely,
Denny Rehberg
Montana's Congressman
Rehberg's letter to Chairman Rahall of House Resources Committee for an oversight hearing:
January 24, 2007
Chairman Nick J. Rahall II
House Resources Committee
1329 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Chairman Rahall,
I am writing to request a Congressional Oversight hearing into the actions that have taken place at the National Bison Range, located in northwestern Montana.
On December 15, 2004, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) and the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes (CSKT) signed an Annual Funding Agreement for the National Bison Range Complex. Under the agreement, CSKT was to perform some of the Fish & Wildlife Service's biology, fire, maintenance and visitor services programs at the Bison Range for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2005 and for Fiscal Year 2006. Last year, the CSKT and FWS engaged in discussions regarding an extension of the funding agreement and an increased management role for the tribe.
However, in early December, these talks and the tribes' role in management of the Bison Range were abruptly ended. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service representatives alleged the CSKT was mismanaging the Bison Range. The CSKT have steadfastly denied the allegations. The allegations included intimidation and harassment by tribal members toward FWS employees and poor care given to their responsibilities toward both the bison and the Bison Range complex.
Then, in late December, the FWS decision was reversed by the Department of Interior (DOI). My office contacted DOI for an explanation of their lack of communication with the tribe or the public with respect to operation at the Bison Range. To date, DOI refuses to respond to my office.
The people of Montana and the employees at the Bison Range, both tribal and non-tribal deserve a full, fair, and impartial investigation into not only FWS's allegations of mismanagement but also DOI's own actions related to the Bison Range.
Please contact Heather Stefanik of my staff at 202-225-3211 for further details. Thank you for your time and I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Sincerely,
Denny Rehberg
Montana's Congressman
http://www.house.gov/list/press/mt00_rehberg/012407_BisonRange.html
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