GYA Bison Brucellosis
Vaccination of Bison in the Western Boundary Areas
of Yellowstone National Park
Decision Notice
Bison Vaccination
The Montana Department of Livestock (DOL) prepared an Environmental Assessment (EA) to review the impacts to the human environment associated with a proposal to vaccinate bison calves and yearlings in the Western Boundary Area, consistent with the adaptive management steps as described in the Interagency Bison Management Plan (IBMP). This Decision Notice summarizes the proposal and the final decision. A description of the issues expressed by the public review of the draft EA and DOL’s responses are attached as Appendix A.
Proposal
The IBMP was approved in 2000. The IBMP provides a framework to manage both bison and the risk of transmission of brucellosis from bison to domestic livestock. The IBMP emphasizes measures to maintain temporal and spatial separation between bison and cattle. The IBMP also anticipated that vaccination of bison would be incorporated as a strategy to reduce the prevalence of brucellosis within the bison herd and to reduce the risk of transmission from bison to cattle. Within the adaptive management framework, the plan specified that vaccination would be implemented incrementally. Initially, vaccination would begin when it was determined that a safe vaccine was available. At this time, DOL proposes to initiate vaccination of seronegative bison calves and yearlings that had been captured in the Western Boundary Area by injection with Brucella abortus strain RB51 vaccine (RB51).
An EA that assessed the impacts of the proposed bison vaccination was offered for public review on December 3, 2004. The EA evaluated two action alternatives:
1. No action. Under this alternative, bison management in the Western Boundary Area would continue under the provisions of the IBMP. The DOL would defer the decision to incorporate bison vaccination into the plan for the Western Boundary Area, pending the results of additional research regarding vaccines suitable for use in bison.
2. Vaccinate seronegative bison calves and yearlings in the Western Boundary Area (Proposed Action). Under this alternative, DOL would vaccinate bison calves and yearlings, consistent with the adaptive management steps for the Western Boundary Area, as described in the IBMP. Vaccination eligible bison include bison that meet all of the following criteria: 1) calves (4 to 12 months of age) and yearlings (12 to 24 months of age); 2) captured as a result of other management actions to manage bison numbers and distribution in the Western Boundary Area; 3) tested to determine that the bison are seronegative for brucellosis; and, 4) otherwise eligible for live release because bison numbers do not exceed the population objective for the respective management area or the population does not exceed the population target of 3,000 for the whole bison herd. When the population exceeds the defined objective for the Western Boundary Area (100 seronegative bison) or for the target for the whole bison herd, the DOL may exercise discretion in determining whether to vaccinate and release otherwise eligible bison.
Vaccination will occur opportunistically, as an incidental activity to normal bison management activities. Capture operations will continue at the level required to maintain bison numbers and distribution in the Western Boundary Area, as defined by the IBMP. The Department does not propose additional capture operations specifically for the purpose of increasing the number of bison available for vaccination.
The EA also identified four additional alternatives that, for reasons explained in the EA, were not analyzed further. These included: 1) Vaccination of bison calves and yearlings according to a research protocol; 2) Vaccinate only female calves and yearlings; 3) Vaccinate with Strain 19; and, 4) Initiate remote vaccination.
Public Process and Comment
The EA was offered for public review on December 3, 2004. DOL requested that comments be submitted by January 5, 2005. DOL published a copy of the EA on its website and provided opportunity for people to submit comments electronically, as an alternative to mailing written comments. DOL also scheduled two public hearings, the first in Bozeman on December 14 and the second in Helena on December 15.
DOL received 66 comments in response to the Environmental Assessment and 13 people attended the two public hearings. In addition to the oral testimony, 2 written comments were submitted during the hearing. In addition to individual comments, responses were received on behalf of the following organizations:
- Montana Stockgrowers Association
- Montana Wool Growers Association
- Greater Yellowstone Coalition
- Buffalo Field Campaign
- Humane Society of the United States
- National Wildlife Federation
- Montana Wildlife Federation
- Gallatin Wildlife Association
- Voices of America
- HOBNOB
DOL compiled a comprehensive list of all substantive comments. The comments and DOL responses are presented in Appendix A. Even though many of the comments are outside the scope of the EA, DOL prepared an appropriate response to all comments that were germane to the broader issue of the IBMP. In doing so, our purpose is to help direct concerned citizens to sources and references that will improve understanding of the IBMP and its relationship to the proposal to vaccinate bison calves and yearlings.
Final Decision
Based on the analysis in the EA and the comments received, it is DOL’s decision to authorize vaccination of bison calves and yearlings in the Western Boundary Area, as described under the proposed action.
DOL has determined that the EA adequately identified and analyzed issues pertinent to the proposed action. Therefore, additional environmental review is not required.
Based on the analysis in the EA and the applicable laws, regulations and policies, DOL has determined that this action will not have a significant effect on the human environment. Therefore, the EA is the appropriate level of review and an environmental impact statement will not be prepared.
The EA, this Decision Notice and the response to public comment may be viewed at the Montana Department of Livestock at the Scott Hart Building, 301 N. Roberts, Helena, MT; or may be obtained by submitting a written request to DOL at PO Box 202001, Helena, MT, 59620-2001. An electronic copy (in Adobe PDF) of the EA, Decision Notice and response to comment also may be obtained from the links below.
Marc Bridges, Executive Officer
Montana Department of Livestock
February 4, 2005
