Tribes Cleared in Bison Range Investigation

The U.S. Department of Interior’s Office of Inspector General recently issued an evaluation report on operations at the National Bison Range Complex. The evaluation was done in response to allegations made by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility that the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service were performing poorly under the Tribal Self-Governance agreement. The investigators found no merit to PEER’s allegations regarding bison management, pesticide application, law enforcement and general management. Communications Director for the CSKT, Rob McDonald, says talks are underway to negotiate a new Bison Range agreement..

McDonald says the Inspector General’s report found no merit to the accusations by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility..The Bison Range near St. Ignatius is currently under the sole management of the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.