Notice of Public Review

Draft Environmental Assessment for the
Tribal Integrated Resource Management Plan
January 26, 2010

The Shoshone-Bannock Tribes, utilizing Bureau of Indian Affair (BIA) grant funding, is developing Tribal Integrated Resource Management Plan (TIRMP). The TIRMP will be a Tribal policy document, based on the vision of the Tribes for natural resource management. This long-range, strategic level plan will integrate the management actions across Tribal departments and programs. The TIRMP will provide guidance for natural resource management that reflects the traditional and cultural land use patterns of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes.

The resources of primary concern are those that are found in the natural environment (air, water, earth, plants, and animals) or that require special protection (cultural resources). This programmatic Environmental Assessment (EA) presents an analysis of impacts that could result from implementing the Integrated Resource Management Plan (IRMP) on the Fort Hall Indian Reservation.

Four alternatives are presented:

No Action Alternative which continues planning and implementation of projects with limited to no integrated resource management considerations;

Proposed Action Alternative which integrates interdisciplinary resource planning into all projects in order to balance development with natural resource sustainability and cultural resource protection;

Growth Alternative which encourages integrated resource management planning while promoting economic growth and development opportunities on the Reservation; and

Restoration Alternative which encourages integrated resource management planning while clearly establishing growth and development boundaries, restricting certain types of land uses, and restoring a number of areas on the Reservation to native plant communities and wildlife use.

The Draft Environmental Assessment is now available for public review for 45 days, effective upon date of publication in the Sho-Ban News. Copies are available at the Tribal Fish & Wildlife Department, Land Use Office, Shoshone-Bannock Tribal Library, Attorney’s Office and the BIA Fort Hall Agency offices. CDs are available upon request.

Information public meetings will be held at the District meetings, to provide the public opportunities to visit Tribal Resource Specialists, ask questions, and share feedback and comments. The Tribes encourage each Tribal member to be involved in this process, which will develop management direction for the natural and cultural resources on the reservation.

For more information, call the Fish & Wildlife Department at 239-4555, or 239-4552. Please submit written comments, within 45 days of original publication in the Sho-Ban News, to the Tribal Environmental Program, Box 306, Fort Hall, ID 83203, email comments to ytuell@sbtribes.com.

District meetings:
Gibson District: Tuesday, February 2, at 6 PM
Ross Fork District: Tuesday, February 9, at 6 PM
Lincoln Creek District: Wednesday, February 17, at 6 PM
Fort Hall District/Buffalo Lodge: Friday, February 26 at 6 pm
Bannock Creek District: Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Public meeting:
Tribal Business Center, Fort Hall, in the Council Chambers, Wednesday, March 3, 2010 at 5.30 PM