A Montana tribe's agreement to manage some services at the National Bison Range is affecting six federal employees.

The agreement doesn't go into effect until March but those affected are being told to decide their future by February 18. The employees can continue working at the range but under a special tribal assignment, they can work for the tribe directly, they can seek reassignment or they can quit.

The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes are set to carry out elements of the management, biology, fire, maintenance and visitor services programs at the bison range. The self-determination agreement was the second of its kind for a national refuge.

Get the Story:
Six positions up in the air at Bison Range (The Missoulian 2/9)
Bison range workers forced to make job decisions (AP 2/9)

Relevant Documents:
Affected Federal Employees Memo | Annual Funding Agreement (December 2004)

Relevant Links:
Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes - http://www.cskt.org
National Bison Range - http://bisonrange.fws.gov
Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility - http://www.peer.org

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