| Yellowstone Bison Slaughter
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| Press
Release- 1/07/03 |
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| Federal
Judge Hears Lawsuit for American Bald Eagles and Yellowstone
Bison
For Immediate Release: 01/07/03
Buffalo Field Campaign
P.O. Box 957 West Yellowstone, MT 59758
Phone (406) 646-0070 Fax (406) 646-0071
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Helena,
MT- Senior U.S. District Judge Charles Lovell
heard arguments today in a case brought against the Montana
Department of Livestock, the U.S. Forest Service, the
U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Department of
Interior, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the
National Park Service by a trio of Environmental groups.
Judge Lovell did not issue a decision in the case.
Cold Mountain, Cold Rivers (CMCR), the Buffalo Field Campaign
(BFC), and the Ecology Center Incorporated (TECI) filed
suit in May 2001 alleging that the state and federal agencies'
Yellowstone bison management operations are illegally
impacting threatened bald eagles, sensitive trumpeter
swans, and their habitats. The lawsuit implicates the
government's on-going multimillion-dollar plan to haze,
capture, and slaughter wild bison on public lands.
TECI spokesperson Jim Coefield said, "We hope that
Judge Lovell will make a quick decision and give the bald
eagles the relief we are asking for."
The groups are seeking relief from ongoing violations
of the Endangered Species Act, the National Environmental
Policy Act, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, the Administrative
Procedures Act, the National Forest Management Act, and
the Special Use Permit authorizing bison capture operations
on the Gallatin National Forest.
Among the issues raised by the groups is the Department
of Livestock's consistent use of helicopters to haze bison
in areas where helicopters are specifically prohibited.
The groups are represented by the Helena law firm Reynolds,
Motl, and Sherwood. According to their attorney, Brenda
Lindlief Hall, "When the sun sets on all of the issues,
what remains is that no analysis of helicopters on wildlife
has ever been done. This failure is a clear violation
of the Endangered Species Act and the National Environmental
Policy Act."
"Hazing is taking a tremendous toll on bison, on
threatened bald eagles, and on native wildlife in the
Yellowstone ecosystem," said CMCR's Darrell Geist,
"It needs to stop."
"The judge expressed concern that more bison may
be killed without the Department of Livestock's capture
facility," said Mike Mease of the Buffalo Field Campaign.
"The bottom line is they are going to try to kill
a thousand buffalo with or without their trap."
The Buffalo Field Campaign (BFC) is the only group working
in the field, everyday, to stop the slaughter of Yellowstone's
wild buffalo. Volunteers defend the buffalo on their traditional
winter habitat and advocate for their protection. Our
daily patrols stand with the buffalo on the ground they
choose to be on and document every move made against them.
Background Information is Available Upon Request. Call
for Interview.
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