News you can use
News you can use
Meeting set for Thursday in Havre field office; numerous FWP items out for public comment
Press release
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks will host a public meeting on the Environmental Assessment of the intent to purchase property for a new FWP Havre field office Thursday in the current office location, 2165 U.S. Highway 2 East, starting at 6 p.m.
FWP leases its current field office location along Highway 2. Due to limited office space and equipment storage, no meeting room, a very small customer service and retail space, a small maintenance shop, and limited public parking, a facility that can better accommodate the needs of FWP and the public is necessary.
During the 2021 Montana legislative session, funding had been approved for the purpose of establishing a new field office in Havre using state special and federal funding. Since that time, FWP has reviewed several options for office locations, ranging from vacant property to existing buildings.
FWP is proposing to purchase the property located at 21 River Road on the north side of Havre. This property sits on 9.15 acres along the north side of the Milk River. Currently existing on the property is a home, a shop, and several outbuildings. FWP has determined this property would provide the needed space and facilities for FWP to operate effectively, as well as provide greater benefits to the public.
FWP invites interested agencies, organizations, and members of the affected public to attend this meeting to review the EA and ask questions. The EA can be viewed by going to http://www.fwp.mt.gov, clicking on “News and Public Notices,” then “Public Notices”, and finally the “Havre field office purchase Checklist EA.”
The EA became available online starting May 18 and remain through June 1, 2023. FWP will consider all comments regarding the EA received or postmarked by June 1, 2023, at 11:59 p.m.
Comments regarding the EA can be emailed to Region 6 supervisor Drew Henry at [email protected], or sent via mail to:
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, Region 6
Attention: Drew Henry
1 Airport Rd
Glasgow, MT 59230
FWP ensures that its meetings are fully accessible to persons with disabilities. To request special accommodations for this meeting, or for any questions, people can contact the FWP Havre field office at 406-265-6177, or the FWP Region 6 headquarters in Glasgow at 406-228-3700.
FWP seeking public comment on several items
The agency is seeking public comment on several other items as well.
For more information, including how to submit comments, click on the link provided or visit https://fwp.mt.gov/public-notices .
Proposed Forest Habitat Improvement and Fuels Reduction Project on Ray Kuhns Wildlife Management Area
FWP intends to prepare an environmental assessment and conduct scoping on the proposed action to implement a forest habitat improvement and fuels reduction project on the Ray Kuhns Wildlife Management Area. FWP invites interested agencies, organizations, and members of the public to submit suggestions to assist in identifying potential issues associated with the proposed action and in determining the appropriate scope of the EA. More specifically, public input received during the scoping period will help FWP determine public interest, identify potential issues that would require further analysis, and may provide further insight for refining the proposal or developing and analyzing additional alternatives. FWP will consider all applicable input received or postmarked by the deadline, in defining the scope of the EA. Comments due May 30.
Upper Thompson Connectivity Project Conservation Easement
FWP is initiating public scoping on a potential purchase of a conservation easement in Flathead and Sanders counties. FWP is working with The Trust for Public Land and Green Diamond Resource Company on a proposed project to place 47,907 acres of highly productive timberland in the Thompson River drainage under conservation easement. Comments received from this preliminary evaluation will help FWP determine public interest, identify potential issues that would require further analysis, and may provide insight for refining the proposal or for developing and analyzing one or more alternatives. Upon completion of the preliminary evaluation, FWP will determine next steps, which may include conducting an environmental analysis with additional opportunity for public input or taking no further action on the proposed project. Comments due June 3.
Fish Creek WMA — Wustner Bee Lease Checklist EA
https://fwp.mt.gov/public-notices/news/2023/may/0519-fish-creek-wma-wustner-bee-lease-checklist-ea
FWP invites public review of the Wustner Bee Lease renewal on Fish Creek WMA. FWP is proposing to renew an existing lease for 10 years. The lease will allow the lessee to place two apiaries in specific locations on Fish Creek WMA no early than June 1 each year, and the lessee will remove them no later than Oct. 1 of each year. FWP does not expect any negative impacts from this ongoing project and recognizes the importance of pollinators on the landscape. Comments due June 3.
Big Spring Creek Conservation Easement
FWP will prepare a draft EA proposing an approximately 2,322-acre perpetual conservation easement in Fergus County near Lewistown. The proposed Big Spring Creek Conservation Easement would provide protection, enhancement and improved public access to a unique and important area of fish and wildlife habitat in central Montana. FWP invites the public to identify any issues and concerns related to this proposal via the public scoping process initiated by this notice. Comments received during this scoping period will help FWP determine public interest, identify potential issues that would require further analysis and may provide insight for refining the proposal or for developing and analyzing additional alternatives. Comments due May 30.
Page Gulch Wild Fish Transfer EA
https://fwp.mt.gov/public-notices/news/2023/may/0517---page-gulch-wild-fish-transfer-ea
FWP proposes to transfer westslope cutthroat trout to the fishless headwaters of Beaver Creek southwest of Helena. Fish would be collected from Page Gulch near Stemple Pass. This action is designed to prevent the loss of a unique genetic strain of cutthroat trout native to central Montana. Comments due June 1.
Craig Fishing Access Site (FAS) Overflow Parking EA
https://fwp.mt.gov/public-notices/news/2023/may/0502---craig-fas-overflow-parking-ea
FWP proposes the construction of a new overflow parking lot in Craig. The proposed project is intended to alleviate parking issues at the existing Craig FAS and on the streets of Craig where the number of vehicles often exceeds the parking capacity during the spring, summer, and early fall. Comments due June 3.
Elk Island Wildlife Management Area Land Trade Draft EA
FWP is proposing a land trade within and adjacent to the Elk Island WMA near Savage. FWP and the affected landowner would trade a 1.07-acre public parcel for a 2.61-acre private parcel, respectively. The proposed trade would rectify a survey error that occurred in 2007, prior to FWP purchasing an addition to the Elk Island WMA in 2008. Comments due June 1.
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