Public Comment. Volume III - Montana Legislature

Miles City Fish Hatchery
Impact Analysis Studies and Proposed Mitigation
Approach
1.0 Introduction
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (MT DFWP) has drafted this impact analyses study
description and proposed mitigation approach to create a clear, step by step impact
evaluation and mitigation process that will be required for Tongue River Railroad
Company (TRRC) to obtain an easement to cross the Miles City Fish Hatchery (MCFH).
The impact analyses studies consist of pre-construction baseline studies to aid in
.. accurately measuring MCFH production success, vibration and additional studies to
determine the potential for impacts due to TRRC operations, and a mitigation plan for
identifying and responding to losses attributable to TRRC construction and/or operation.
MT DFWP has included information on current levels of production, fiscal value of the
hatchery in terms of its contribution to the state's fish and recreation resources, and
annual budget estimates to allow accurate valuation of potentiaI Iosses. All direct and
indirect costs for implementing this mitigation plan, including all aspects fiom the two
pre-construction studies to any actual repairs or replacement of hatchery products (e.g.
eggs or fish) or facilities, will be TRRC's responsibility. MT DFWP will not bear
responsibility for any increase in operating costs due to any activities associated with data
gathering or execution of any mitigation activities. Should any costs of this nature occur,
they will be reimbursable by TRRC. The mitigation plan shall be as quantifiableand
clear as possible in order to avoid future negotiations that would delay mitigation for such
a time sensitive resource.
1.1 History
MCFH was transferred to MT DFWP fiom the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 1983
for use as a warm-water fish production hatchery to meet the state's needs for game fish
such as walleye, pike, bass, channel catfish, and various forage species. MCFH also
provides rearing capacity for research species, species of special concern, and endangered
species as needs arise within the state and surrounding region. MCFH's importance to the
state's recreational fishery cannot be overemphasized as it is the sole source for warmwater
game fish for 65 reservoirs, and provides cool and cold water fish for an additional
67 reservoirs in Montana. The mean economical value to the state for the Fort Peck
Reservoir alone in 1997 dollars was approximately $2,60 1,096, based on 36,309 angler
days (G. Bertellotti, MT DFWP, personal communication, 1999). The economic value
generated by the hatchery extends to the communities surrounding these reservoirs in the
form of jobs and tourism.
-222- Volume Ill: Public Comment