EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF THE FINAL EIS ON MANAGEMENT OF 

 GRIZZLY BEARS IN SOUTHWESTERN MONTANA 



HISTORY OF PROPOSAL 



In keeping with the general management goals of Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks 

 (FWP), the management of Montana's grizzly bears {Ursiis arctos) in southwestern 

 Montana was reviewed beginning in 2000. Concerns raised both in the department and 

 by the general public were used to shape the objectives for the program review. Because 

 major changes in numbers and distribution of grizzlies in the area is occurring, an 

 environmental impact statement (EIS) has been completed in compliance with the 

 Montana Environmental Policy Act (MEPA). 



Preceded by press releases, scoping sessions were held in September and October 2001. 

 After analysis of public input, a draft EIS (DEIS) describing a preferred approach and 

 alternatives considered for grizzlies in southwestern Montana was issued in April 2002 

 for further public review and input. Following analysis of public input on the DEIS, a 

 final EIS was issued in November 2002. 



MEPA PROCESS 



Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) developed this plan and programmatic 

 environmental impact statement (PEIS) through a series of meetings with affected 

 agencies, governments, interested persons, and groups. FWP initiated the scoping 

 processes with discussion of potential issues and alternatives with biologists, wardens, 

 and representatives from Idaho and Wyoming during the summer of 2000. Following 

 those preliminary efforts, FWP held a series of 13 public scoping meetings in 

 southwestern Montana during September and October 2000 (Livingston, Bozeman, 

 Missoula, Big Sky, Big Timber, Dillon, Ennis, Butte, West Yellowstone, Billings, 

 Columbus, Gardiner, and Red Lodge). FWP solicited written comments throughout the 

 Fall of 2000 through news releases, press interviews, and personal contacts. During these 

 meetings, FWP sought to identify issues likely to involve significant impacts and those 

 issues not likely to involve significant impacts, as well as to identify possible alternatives 

 for grizzly bear management. To fiarther develop issues and ideas for possible 

 alternatives, FWP held a meeting in Bozeman consisting of the Governors' Roundtable 

 members, and other invited interest groups and individuals, on December 4-5, 2000. 

 FWP invited the participation of those individuals and groups that had expressed interest 

 in additional participation as well as other affected agencies. Following this meeting, a 

 draft management plan was produced and resubmitted to a broader group of interested 

 parties including those who attended the December meeting. An additional facilitated 

 meeting was held in Bozeman April 30-May 1, 2001 to review and discuss approaches 

 presented in the preliminary draft plan with the purpose of fine tuning a draft. A meeting 

 was held on October 22, 2001, to fiarther review the draft plan for release and formal 

 public hearings. All of the meetings were open to the public. A draft plan was released 

 for public comment April 5, 2002. Formal public hearings were conducted through the 

 same area of southwestern Montana as previous scoping sessions (13 total). Public 



