BEFORE THE DEPARTMENT OF FISH, WILDLIFE AND PARKS

OF THE STATE OF MONTANA

 

In the matter of the amendment of ARM 12.2.605, 12.2.606, 12.2.607, and 12.2.608 pertaining to public access land agreements

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NOTICE OF AMENDMENT

 

TO: All Concerned Persons

 

1. On December 9, 2022, the Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks published MAR Notice No. 12-592 pertaining to the public hearing on the proposed amendment of the above-stated rules at page 2230 of the 2022 Montana Administrative Register, Issue No. 23.  On January 13, 2023, the department published a second notice of the proposed amendment of the above-stated rules at page 4 of the 2023 Montana Administrative Register, Issue Number 1.

 

2. The department has amended the above-stated rules as proposed.

 

3. The department has thoroughly considered the comments and testimony received. A summary of the comments received, and the department's responses are as follows:

 

COMMENT #1: The department received a few programmatic questions such as who qualifies, liability concerns, length of agreements, presence of cattle during open use times, and maximum number of agreements any one landowner can have, etc.

 

RESPONSE #1: The department supplied a response to the commenter directly, but these comments are outside the scope of the proposed rule modification.

 

COMMENT #2: A comment was received questioning total project costs, additional sources of program revenue, criteria for how PALA applicants are selected, and ability to enroll in Block Management and PALA.

 

RESPONSE #2: The department supplied a response to the commenter directly, but these comments are outside the scope of the proposed rule modification.

 

 

/s/ Alexander Scolavino                              /s/ Dustin Temple

Alexander Scolavino                                   Dustin Temple         

Rule Reviewer                                             Deputy Director

                                                                     Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks

 

           

Certified to the Secretary of State February 28, 2023.