Wyoming & Brucellosis: Pot, Kettle, Black Black Black

May 13, 2009 in Brian Schweitzer, Brucellosis, Common Sense, Economy & Business, Environment, Montana, Wildlife

by jhwygirl

Just last week Wyoming and Idaho slammed federal plans to created a special brucellosis management plan around Yellowstone National Park. Their letter to U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said the plan was “hastily contrived” plan would allow the government to “walk away from the issue forever”, without getting rid of the disease.

Idaho, the state that had elk farms? Elk that got loose and have intermingled with wild elk?

Wyoming? Wyoming that operates its own feedgrounds? And champions the federal feed ground that border Grand Teton National Park, which borders Yellowstone National Park, which borders Montana (which has lost its brucellosis-free status)?

Really? You want federal welfare, forever, because of your poor wildlife management decisions even while you continue those poor wildlife management decisions?

Let’s say this real slowly for you all down there in Cheyenne: Brucellosis Can Not Be Eliminated While You Continue To Feed Elk.

Wyoming? You really should know that already…..

I’ve blogged a whole hell of a lot on this brucellosis issue – most recently on recent legislation, and you don’t have to scroll too far down to see posts like So Hey DOL, When Do We Start Slaughtering Elk?….in case you need some background.

July of last year, Governor Schweitzer criticized Wyoming’s operation of feedgrounds. Looks like he has another opportunity to offer some more constructive criticism – this time, to the feds for their operation of the National Elk Refuge.

Just how much money has the State of Montana lost due to the loss of its brucellosis-free status? How much money have Montana ranchers lost?

An April 29th story in the Jackson Hole News & Guide reports that the National Elk Refuge is proposing to increase forage on the refuge by irrigating 3,400 additional acres. And environmental assessment – released on the 27th – is out for comment. Comments can be sent to National Elk Refuge, Attention Irrigation EA, P.O. Box 510, Jackson Wyoming 83001 or nationalelkrefuge@fws.gov with “Irrigation EA” in the subject line.

But an April 28th story reports on $3.2 million going to the refuge for the irrigation project.

So let’s see – how does this work? Weren’t stimulus projects supposed to be “shovel ready”?

Or does releasing the EA the day before cash-fairy Interior Secretary Salazar announces the $3.2 million for said irrigation project make it “shovel ready”?

Is an EA sufficient analysis for irrigation 3,400 acres of federal ground? When the purpose of irrigation is to feed wildlife? When the area being irrigated is adjacent to a National Park

Honest to God – why do we even have laws anymore? NEPA? SCHMEPA.

What are people thinking?

And now the feds are condoning feedgrounds? Expanding them?

You gotta wonder.