

1400 South 19th Avenue 

 Bozeman, MT 59718-5496 



July 7, 2006 



Dear Interested Party 



Enclosed for your review is the management plan and draft programmatic 

 environmental impact statement (EIS) for grizzly bears in western Montana. 



The draft Grizzly Bear Management Plan for Western Montana was developed to 

 address the future of grizzly bear management in western Montana outside of the 

 Greater Yellowstone Area. The plan focuses on grizzly bear populations or 

 potential populations in the Northern Continental Divide, Cabinet-Yaak, Bitterroot 

 Ecosystems, and surrounding areas. 



In response to an increase in the number and distnbution of bears in western 

 Montana, Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP) developed this 

 programmatic EIS to evaluate current management programs and ensure the 

 future success of grizzly bear conservation. FWP analyzed a variety of 

 alternatives for each ecosystem, focusing on the kinds of management activities 

 FWP conducts to ensure human safety, prevent conflicts with livestock, and 

 mitigate property damage, as well as looking at each recovery zone individually 

 and evaluation current programs in those areas. Alternatives are outlined for 

 each ecosystem. 



You will have 90 days to comment on the draft EIS beginning July 3, 2006 and 

 ending October 3, 2006. Comments can be received by mail, email, or at one of 

 1 1 public heanngs scheduled dunng the month of September across western 

 Montana. All meetings will be held from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the following 

 locations: 



September 11 

 September 12 

 September 13 

 September 14 

 September 18 

 September 19 

 September 20 

 September 21 

 September 25 

 September 26 

 September 27 



Choteau, Stage Stop Inn, 1005 Main Avenue N. 



Great Falls, FWP Headquarters, 4600 Giant Springs Road 



Lincoln, Lambkins Restaurant 



Helena, FWP Commission Room, 1420 Easts'^ Ave. 



Thompson Falls, Sanders County Courthouse, Third Floor 



Libby, Venture Inn, 433 Hwy 2 W. 



Eureka, Lincoln Electric Meeting Room 



Kalispell, FWP Headquarters, 490 N. Mendian Road 



Hamilton, Daly-Lead Memorial Chapel, 1010 W, Main 



Missoula, FWP Headquarters, 3201 Spurgin Road 



Seeley Lake, Senior Citizen's Center 



