And now:Ish <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: Date: Fri, 12 Mar 1999 13:36:50 -0700 To: "Wild Rockies Alerts" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> From: Wild Rockies InfoNet <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Buffalo Legislation in MT to get Hearing; Letters Needed! Howdy folks, House Bill 643 will be heard in the House Ag Committee, 3pm, March 18, 1999. A rally at 1:30pm with speakers and drummers on the Capitol steps will precede the hearing. Media Welcome! We need to have a good turnout for the hearing, so if you can get to Helena, we need you! HB 643, introduced by Rep. Gail Gutsche (D-Missoula) will modify management of wild buffalo in Montana, outside of Yellowstone National Park. The bill will include several provisions that will prevent the wanton slaughter of wild buffalo that may have been exposed to brucellosis. House Bill 643 has four main provisions: 1) Transfers primary management of buffalo from the Montana Deparment of Livestock (DOL) to the Montana Department of Fish Wildlife and Parks (FWP). This puts wildlife biologists, not cattle folks in charge of the public's wildlife. 2) Mandates that Montana follow the federal Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's (APHIS) definition of low-risk buffalo, and honor the 30-60 grace period on public lands. APHIS has stated that bulls, calves and non-pregnant females cannot transmit the disease under normal conditions in the wild, and should be considered "low-risk" by the state, and could be allowed to winter undisturbed on public lands outside of Yellowstone National Park. APHIS also allows that a 30 day window of separation between the time pregnant females leave lands that cattle will be grazing on is sufficient to protect against transmission of the disease. 3) Prevents the state from selling, and/or profiting from, the sale of live or slaughtered buffalo. In 1997, the slaughter of almost 1200 buffalo brought the State of Montana's Dept of Livestock coffers a profit of almost 200 grand! The practice of profitting from the slaughter has been most offensive to many people. 4) Directs the MT Department of Fish Wildlife and Parks to conduct a study of the carrying capacity for buffalo on public lands outside of Yellowstone, and to develop a management plan--in conjunction with tribal interests--to manage the herd for that population. ******************* What you can do: * Attend the Hearing and Rally; Folks in Misoula can call 728-0867 to arrange car pooling, or to ride one of the vans we have reserved to ferry folks to Helena. Vans will be leaving the Ecology Center, 801 Sherwood, suite B at 10:30 sharp. Bring a sack lunch. * Write, email, or fax letters to members of the House AG committe, or call them and leave a message. Letters to all of the members would be great. If you email them, send an email to each member; * Make it known that the State of Montana must alter their bison management policies to allow wild buffalo to roam in Montana on their traditional, critical wintering grounds just outside of Yellowstone National Park; * If you are outside of Monatan, let the AG committee and the DOL know that the buffalo herd is a PUBLIC RESOURCE, not just a herd of buffalo for them to treat like cattle. This is a NATIONAL issue; * Pass this note on to folks you know who may not have heard about this issue, and urge them to make their wishes known; * Send personal testimony to the committee in addition to your vote of support. ******************** Please contact the members of the House Agriculture committee to urge their support of HB 643 and establish some sound buffalo management guidelines. (Every fax, letter, call or email can help make a difference!) Members of the House Ag Committee (the last three already support the bill): Joe Barnett; Chair; Belgrade, (R) John L Holden; Vice Chair; Valier; (R) Rick Dale; Member; WhiteHall; (R) Kathleen Galvin-Halcro; Member; Great Falls (D) Mary Anne Guggenheim; Member; Helena; (D) Donald L Hedges; Member; Antelope; (R) Verdell Jackson; Member; Kalispell; (R) Rick Jore; Member; Ronan; (R) Monica Lindeen; Member; Huntley; (D) Gay Ann Masolo; Member; Townsend; (R) Sam Rose; Member; Choteau; (R) Brennan Ryan; Member; Stockett; (D) Bob Story; Member; Park City; (R) Bill Thomas; Member; Hobson; (R) Ralph Lenhart; Vice Chair; Glendive; (D) Cliff Trexler; Member; Hamilton; (R) Darrel Adams; Member; Columbia Falls; (R) *Paul Clark; Member; Trout Creek; (D) *Frank Smith; Member; Poplar; (D) *Bill Eggers; Member; Crow Agency; (D) * Known Bill Supporters To CONTACT: By phone: Call 406-444-4800 and you can leave a message for up to two legislators. Be sure to keep your message concise and refer specifically to HB 643. Fax: 1-900-225-1600; Address it to the Representative By e-mail: E-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED], be sure to put the Representative's name in the subject line. By mail: Send letters of support to Representative ________, Capitol Station, Helena, MT 59620. ***************** Jim Coefield The Ecology Center, Inc. 406-728-5733 mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] ************************************************************************ List-Subscribe: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> List-Unsubscribe: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> News Submissions or Problems: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> This list is a public service provided by WIN: http://www.wildrockies.org &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& Tsonkwadiyonrat (We are ONE Spirit) Unenh onhwa' Awayaton http://www.tdi.net/ishgooda/ &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
