The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) has officially denied a request from American Prairie to allow bison grazing on state lands in Phillips County. This decision follows a six-year delay and a court order requiring the agency to complete an environmental analysis of the proposal.
Deputy Director Erin Weisgerber signed the Checklist Environmental Assessment on July 17. The agency reached this conclusion shortly after the public comment period closed. The DNRC cited concerns regarding property boundaries and state statutes that prohibit bison from running at large, while also noting that American Prairie's bison would have access to federal lands where grazing permits have been recently revoked by the Department of the Interior.
Former state officials and environmental experts have characterized the DNRC effort as a minimal response to a complex issue. The agency determined that because the proposal allowed for potential movement onto adjacent federal property, it would not authorize the requested fence modifications or grazing activity. This conclusion effectively stops the plan from moving forward on the specific state-leased sections.
American Prairie representatives expressed disappointment with the lack of an in-depth environmental review, noting that their own documentation pointed to positive ecological impacts. The organization is currently evaluating its next steps following this denial. The decision highlights the ongoing tension in Montana regarding land use, bison conservation, and the regulatory definitions of production livestock versus conservation herds.