An attempt to purchase grazing rights for 30 years on the former Church Universal and Triumphant (CUT) ranch just north of Yellowstone died Thursday on a split vote, but was revived after Fish, Wildlife and Park Commission members agreed to revisit the issue after a site visit.

The plan is opposed by a nearby landowner, the Buffalo Field Campaign and the Gallatin Wildlife Association.

Holding up a three-inch-thick file at the meeting, Glenn Hockett, GWA president, noted that 95 percent of the letters in the file were against the plan.

“Yet the great majority are overwhelmingly in support of having bison managed as wildlife in the state of Montana,” Hockett said. “Clearly, there isn’t consensus here. I think we have a need to slow down here.”

But Ben Lamb, conservation director for the Montana Wildlife Federation — of which the Gallatin group is a member — urged the commission to move forward.

“We’ve been working within the framework of the IBMP (Interagency Bison Management Plan) for almost 10 years and there’s been very little movement. Everybody is frustrated over the bison issue,” Lamb said. “Everybody wants something to happen, to see bison restored to the landscape in some fashion. This is a small step but it’s a first step off of square one onto square two.”

The IBMP was signed in 2000, outlining a management plan for bison migrating into Montana from Yellowstone National Park.

Ranchers fear the bison leaving the park will spread brucellosis to their cattle, which can cause them to abort their fetuses. Bison proponents argue that the cattle were the non-native species and shouldn’t take precedent over the wild bison.

But the U.S. Department of Interior balked at the appraisal that was done, and the project languished until 2005, noted Pat Flowers, regional supervisor for FWP.

As part of the newest agreement, the National Park Service agreed to put up $1.5 million and non-governmental groups said they would pitch in another $1 million.

In addition, FWP would come up with $300,000 to pay the CUT ranch — formally known as the Royal Teton Ranch — to remove its cattle for 30 years from the 7,500-acre ranch, which includes a swath of land that leads to public lands outside Yellowstone National Park.

Thursday’s FWP Commission vote is one of the final parts of the puzzle. The issue is slated to go before the state land board on Monday.

“We as a private property owner are trying to do our best to give you something that will uncork this conundrum that so many of us are involved in,” said Kate Gordon, president of the Royal Teton Ranch.

She added that while the agreement only allows for 25 buffalo the first year, that could be expanded to upward of 100.

But her neighbor, Bonnie Lynn, worried that more wildlife will get caught in additional fences needed to guide the bison from the park through the CUT ranch to U.S. Forest Service grazing land.

Lynn passed the commission pictures she’s taken of animals that died while trying to pass through existing fencing.

Jim Bailey with the Gallatin Wildlife Association also wondered about additional costs of putting up and taking down fences, and added that the agreement doesn’t stop horses from grazing there or from structures being constructed nearby.

And Stephanie Seay with the Buffalo Field Campaign said the total cost of the grazing lease buyout —$3.3 million — is too much for temporary land use.

“You’re not protecting bison or restoring bison,” Seay said. “The only good thing is you’re getting the cows off the land. This will not stop the slaughter of bison.”

The plan was rejected after a split 2-2 vote by the commission; Chairman Steve Doherty wasn’t present.

But Commissioner Willie Doll said he might reconsider his no vote after a site visit, which was scheduled to take place this morning. The FWP Commission will hold a conference call at 4 p.m. today to discuss the matter further.

Commissioner Victor Workman also voted against the project, saying that to him, the matter isn’t about bison, open range or brucellosis. Instead, it’s a political football.

“We’re spending all this money chasing bison back into the park, and to spend all this money for a safe haven is an atrocity and ought to stop,” Workman said. “… We need to keep politics from dictating what we do.”

Commissioners supporting the expenditure said that while it’s not a perfect plan, at least it’s a step forward in resolving the ongoing conflict between bison supporters and cattle ranchers.

“It’s an enormous step in comparison to what we’ve done in the past,” said Commissioner Shane Colton.

Public comment

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks commissioners will meet by telephone today, Dec. 12, at 4 p.m. to review their position on the proposed acquisition of 30-year grazing rights from the Royal Teton Ranch.

The public is invited to participate and comment during the conference call. Conference facilities will be available at the FWP Region 3 building at 1400 South 19th Ave., and at FWP headquarters at 1420 East Sixth Ave., in Helena.

The public may call 406-994-6931 for more information on how to participate in the teleconference.

Reporter Eve Byron: 447-4076 or eve.byron@helenair.com