The environmental impact statement analyzes impacts of several different means (alternatives) for the interagency, long-term management (assumed for purposes of analysis to be 15 years) of Yellowstone area bison to ensure domestic cattle in portions of Montana adjacent to Yellowstone National Park are protected from brucellosis, a disease some of these bison carry, and to ensure the wild and free-ranging nature of the bison herd. Each alternative benefits from the cooperation of the U.S. Department of the Interior’s National Park Service (NPS), the state of
Montana
, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service and APHIS. In nearly every alternative, all have jurisdiction over a portion of the management effort, either directly or indirectly. At this time, the modified preferred alternative is the federal agencies’ preferred means of bison management.
Did You Know?
Yellowstone contains approximately one-half of the world’s hydrothermal features. There are over 10,000 hydrothermal features, including over 300 geysers, in the park.