2. Fee Title Acquisition Alternative: (Preferred Alternative) 



Hughes Livestock Company has offered sale as fee title. The alternative meets 

 the Department objective to acquire ownership of the key winter range area for 

 the upper Judith River wintering elk population. 



3. Conservation Easement Alternative: 



A conservation easement was discussed, but rejected. The alternative was 

 unacceptable because it did not address the desire of Hughes Livestock 

 Company to consolidate their ranch holdings. The project area is a remote, 

 isolated tract located approximately 8 miles distant from the main ranch 

 holdings; consequently, proper management creates difficulty and added 

 expense for the owners. 



XI. EVALUATION OF NEED FOR AN EIS 



Based on the environmental assessment (EA), there will not be any significant 

 negative impacts from the proposed action. Therefore, an environmental impact 

 statement is not required and an EA is the appropriate level of review. The 

 overall impact from the successful completion of the proposed action would 

 provide substantial long term benefits to both the physical and human 

 environment. 



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