“We look forward to working with our public land managers and neighbors to ensure we do our part to protect the long-term health of the land, the health of our bison herd, and of the Phillips County livestock industry,” said Beth Saboe, senior public relations manager for APR, in an email.

The nonprofit APR manages more than 800 head of bison with a long-term goal of establishing a conservation herd of 10,000 animals. In addition to bison, the reserve also provides grazing leases to ranchers for 13,000 head of cattle.

“The BLM has implemented similar actions in other areas, including existing permits for bison grazing currently held by APR,” the BLM noted in its Finding of No Significant Impact. “As a result, no precedent would be set with approval of the proposed action.”