Dept of 636*294 • Fishf Wildlif e» F 2bvr f and Parks 997 I ^ Bifir \reivet i^anchi Grame Faria e xpansion FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT RANCH BIO VELVET GAME FARM EXPAN/ION May 1997 STATE DOCUMENTS COLLECTII aui'i ? 13S7 MONTANA STATE LIBRARY R.r-, r1rM5A15MEO.M6TtAhNAAVE5.9620 I <^oqtatiaT>epartnfei^ qf ‘FistifWtUa^e (Si VatK^ '] MONTANASTATELIBRARY 3 0864 0009 9671 3 P. O. Box 200701 MT Helena, 59620-0701 (406) 542-5512 FAX:406-542-5529 May 24, 1997 Dear Reader: Enclosed for your review and comment is the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for & an expansion of the Big Velvet Ranch Game Farm prepared by Montana Fish, Wildlife, Parks. The Final EIS has been prepared in abbreviated format and must be used in conjunction with the Draft EIS (DEIS) issued April 23, 1997. The FEIS and the DEIS constitute the complete EIS. In Chapter 4, the FEIS responds to the comments received during the public review period on the DEIS. Following the 15-day availability period of this FEIS, a Record of Decision will be issued. Questions or comments should be directed to: Mack Long, Warden Captain & Region 2, Montana Fish, Wildlife, Parks 3201 Spurgin Road MT Missoula, 59801 or telephone at 406-542-5512. Sincerely, Region 2 Warden Captain Enclosure 2016 in https://archive.org/details/bigvelvetranchg1997mont_0 Table of Contents FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT BIG VELVET RANCH GAME FARM EXPANSION TABLE OF CONTENTS Page CHAPTER INTRODUCTION 1 1-1 CHAPTER 2 AGENCY PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE ............. 2-1 CHAPTER 3 ERRATA 3-1 CHAPTER 4 COMMENTS AND RESPONSES 4-1 Final EIS c. \ Introduction 1 - 1 This Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) is prepared for a proposed expansion to the Big Velvet Ranch (BVR) game farm located in Ravalli County, Montana. The FEIS contains the Agency Preferred Alternative and a record of written and verbal comments received on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS). The DEIS previously distributed and this document together constitute the FEIS for the BVR game farm proposed expansion. CHAPTER The DEIS was distributed for public comment on 1 April 23, 1997. The Montana Department of Fish, Wild and Parks (FWP) received written comments and held one public meeting to receive comments INTRODUCTION during the public comment period which ended on May 23, 1997. Neither written comments nor comments received during the public meeting identified major changes or modifications to the analysis or conclusions presented in the DEIS. The DEIS has not been reprinted; therefore, this document should be read in conjunction with the DEIS. Minor revisions to the text of the DEIS are addressed in Chapter 3 ofthis document (Errata). The Agency Preferred Alternative is described in Chapter 2 of this document. Chapter 3 provides specific edits or corrections to the DEIS. All recorded verbal comments, letters received bythe end of the comment period, and responses to substantive comments are located in Chapter 4. Final EiS Agency Preferred Alternative 2 - 1 This section of the FEIS describes the Agency Preferred Alternative. The FEIS Agency Preferred Alternative is the No Action Alternative. Under the No Action Alternative, FWP would not issue a license for expansion of the BVR game farm as proposed. Implementation of the No Action Alternative would not preclude other activities allowed under local, state and federal laws to take place in the expansion area. CHAPTER 2 The No Action Alternative was selected based on potential significant impacts to native wildlife, blocking seasonal migration routes, and removal AGENCY PREFERRED of critical winter rangewhich could resultfrom the Proposed Action. FWP has determined that ALTERNATIVE these impacts could not be mitigated using reasonable mitigation measures. Final EIS 'M; , , :'^!u 3mf*W<, a" QiA 8rtl ^artlo' ^ % l®>Br, ' „ ?sk,-'.w.., '.^. f,' 'M , ;. m.'"y-'---M '^iW "* _j, iww^Ssw ;'%/v m 7«: Si^y.Lm i'^ .'•<r jf fi .!'»?.^«t-'" '' ^k.% '•|!^^ ' .."4 r'*T\. •^i' sw #e\B \»n\“^