Decision Notice MT WILD Wildlife Center Raptor Enclosure
Apr 6, 2021 1:57 PM
DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED ACTION
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) proposes to build new raptor enclosures and an adjacent viewing area and trail at their wildlife rehabilitation center, MT WILD Wildlife Center, in Helena, MT. The new structure at Montana WILD’s Wildlife Center will house birds of prey that are part of the center’s education and rehabilitation programs. The project will be entirely funded by external funding (donations), and construction of the enclosures is proposed to begin May/June of 2022 and be completed by September/October of 2022.
ALTERNATIVE PROPOSED ACTION
Alternative A: No action: The raptor enclosures and new trail/viewing area will not be built.
Alternative B: Proposed action: New raptor enclosures and adjacent viewing area and trail will be built.
MONTANA ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ACT (MEPA) PROCESS
The proposal has been analyzed in an Environmental Assessment (EA) to satisfy the Montana Environmental Policy Act (MEPA). FWP is required to assess the impacts of the proposed action to the human and natural environment as directed by MEPA. Under the MEPA process, a 33-day public comment period ran from January 9, 2020 through February 28, 2020. Notice was published three times in the Helena Independent Record and was posted on the FWP web page.
ISSUES RAISED IN THE ENIROMENTAL ASSESSMENT (EA)
There were no issues raised.
GENERAL SUMMARY OF PUBLIC COMMENTS
During the public comment period only one public comment in the form of a letter was received from the Last Chance Audubon in Helena. There comment was as follows: “We at Last Chance Audubon Society, Helena, support the FWP MT WILD proposal to build new raptor enclosures which will provide high quality of care for both the raptors they rehabilitate and the education raptors they care for on a permanent basis. Both the bird enclosures and the new viewing trail will encourage the public to care more about birds and to become active birdwatchers. The trail is designed to be universally accessible to all people, including those with disabilities.”
DECISION
After review of this proposal and public comment, it is my decision to accept the draft Environmental Assessment as supplemented by this Decision Notice as final, and to recommend proceeding with the proposed FWP MT WILD – Wildlife Center raptor enclosures and viewing trail. If all external funding is secured and legislative private authority given in 2021, construction will begin in May 2022 and end in October 2022.
The Final Environmental Assessment may be viewed on FWP’s Internet website: http://www.fwp.mt.gov or be obtained from Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, Region 8 Headquarters, 1420 E. 6th Ave, Helena, MT 59601, (406) 444-2535.
Greg Lemon
Communication Education Division Administrator, Region 8