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1910: William Hornaday
unsuccessfully petitions Congress for a bison reserve in Montana.
1937:
Olaus Murie recommends bison reintroduction
to Fort Peck Wildlife Refuge (now the CMR National Wildlife
Refuge).
2001:
Fauna West report to Fish, Wildlife &
Parks recommends CMR introduction sites.
2006:
In quarantine research plan, FWP refers
to relocating bison to “suitable public lands in Montana”.
2009:
FWP Director predicts state bison plan
within “couple of years”.
2011:
FWP Commission endorses study of bison
restoration.
2011:
FWP publishes only 100 copies of background
study.
2011:
Refuge plan supports bison restoration
on CMR by Montana.
2012:
FWP holds 8 scoping meetings around Montana.
2012:
FWP retains rights, for 5 years, to use
research-quarantine bison for conservation purposes (see 2017
below).
2013-14:
FWP appoints discussion group for bison
plan. Four more public meetings held.
2014:
FWP offers a Framework bison management
plan. Four alternatives were for herds of 50, 100, 200-400,
or 1000 bison. These specific options were abandoned in the
2015 environmental statement.
2015:
Draft environmental statement for bison plan does not include
a time or place for restoration. Alternatives are based on major
land ownerships within any restoration area. Possible herd sizes
are small (at least 40) or large (400 or more). Public comments
due in September.
2017:
FWP rights to obtain research-quarantine bison for conservation
purposes expire unused.
2017:
FWP says “we are working on” a decision from the 2015
environmental statement. No analysis of public comments is available.
2018:
FWP directors says: “We are still working on it”.
2020:
FWP releases Decision
on 2015 EIS, requests public to submit proposals on where,
when and how to restore public, wild bison to Montana.
2020:
United Property Owners of Montana sue FWP, claiming the EIS does
not comply with Montana laws, and demanding a new EIS.
2021: FWP vacates
EIS, declaring it null and void and commits not to undertake a
new EIS process for 10 years.
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