Sage Grouse Oversight Team meets April 25

From Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation

HELENA — The Montana Sage Grouse Oversight Team will meet via teleconference on Thursday, from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the Montana Room at the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation headquarters, located at 1539 Eleventh Avenue, in Helena. 

During the teleconference, MSGOT members will consider executive action on a conservation credit project initiated by a developer to offset impacts of future development activities. 

Two proposed mitigation plans will also be considered for approval.  The first plan is proposed for a wind facility which pre-dates Executive Order 12-2015, but is offered voluntarily by the developer. The second plan is proposed to offset impacts of a communications cell tower, with the proponent seeking an MSOGT-approved waiver for the mitigation obligation due to economic constraints. 

All meeting materials are available on MSGOT’s meeting web page. See https://sagegrouse.mt.gov/Team/.

Some MSGOT members will participate by telephone and others will attend in person.  Members of the public can participate and offer comment on MSGOT’s pending decisions by attending in person.

The Montana Sage Grouse Habitat Conservation Program works to sustain viable sage grouse populations and conserve habitat, enabling Montanans to maintain control of their lands, wildlife and economy by avoiding a listing of the greater sage grouse under the federal Endangered Species Act.  

A copy of the agenda appears below.

AGENDA

Montana Sage Grouse Oversight Team

Thursday 3:30-5 p.m.

DNRC Headquarters, Montana Room

1539 11th Ave., Helena

3:30 p.m.:  Call to Order, John Tubbs, MSGOT Chair and DNRC Director

• Introductions

• Administrative Matters:  2019 Proposed Meeting Dates

3:45 – 4 p.m.:  Denbury Resources’ Proposed Permittee Responsible Credit Project:  Ringling Ranch Limited Partnership — Paul D. Ringling Ranch — Conservation Easement

• Introduction:  Carolyn Sime Program Manager

• Public Comment

• MSGOT Discussion and Potential Executive Action

4 – 4:25 p.m.:  Mud Springs Wind Facility Voluntary Mitigation Plan

• Introduction:  Carolyn Sime Program Manager

• Public Comment

• MSGOT Discussion and Potential Executive Action

4:25 – 4:50 p.m.:  DY Junction Communication Cell Tower Mitigation Plan and Triangle Communication System Inc.’s Mitigation Obligation Waiver Request

• Introduction:  Carolyn Sime Program Manager

• Public Comment

• MSGOT Discussion and Potential Executive Action

4:50 – 5 p.m.: Public Comment on Other Matters 

NOTE: Agenda item times are approximate. Actual times may vary by up to one hour.  Attendees who may need services or special accommodations should contact Carolyn Sime, (406-444-0554 or [email protected]), at least five working days before the meeting.