A federal judge ended a controversial self-governance agreement that allowed the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes to handle certain functions at the National Bison Range in Montana.

Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly ruled that the Interior Department violated the National Environmental Policy Act by entering into an annual funding agreement with the tribe in 2008. Kollar-Kotelly said the department failed to explain why it did not conduct an environmental analysis of its action.

The decision means DOI could enter into another agreement with the tribe. A previous agreement from 2004 had addressed the lack of an environmental analysis.

But for now, 10 tribal employees could be out of a job at the bison range, which is located entirely within reservation boundaries.

Get the Story:
National Bison Range ruling cuts funding deal between Interior, CSKT (The Missoulian 9/29)

District Court Decision:
Reed v. Salazar (September 28, 2010)

Related Stories:
Montana tribe welcomes review of bison range agreement (3/25)
Montana tribe helps annual bison roundup (10/6)
Group sues over tribal management of bison range (12/9)
Tribal National Bison Range agreement takes effect (9/18)
Montana tribe signs National Bison Range agreement (6/20)
Agreement near for tribal role at National Bison Range (2/7)
Talks resume for tribal contract at bison range (1/24)
DOI OIG posts report on National Bison Range (12/13)
DOI resumes negotiations over Montana bison range (12/6)
Cason optimistic on tribal contract for bison range (11/09)
House Resources hearing on self-governance bill (11/8)
DOI cutting herd, staff at National Bison Range (4/12)
NPR: Tribal management at bison range in Montana (03/05)
Tribe's role at bison range faces numerous probes (02/13)
Top DOI officials visit Bison Range in Montana (1/24)
Montana tribe hopes for new bison agreement (01/03)