BILLINGS – The Fish Consumption Advisory Board, consisting of representatives from Montana Department of Public Health & Human Services (DPHHS), Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP), has issued a consumption advisory on all fish species in the Yellowstone River from Indian Fort Fishing Access Site (FAS) near Reed Point to the Highway 212 bridge in Laurel. Various polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, or PAHs, were detected at levels high enough to warrant this advisory for all fish species, both game and nongame.

Sampling Results

FWP crews collected longnose suckers, shorthead redhorse, rainbow trout, brown trout and mountain whitefish from areas upstream and downstream of the June 24 train derailment site at Twin Bridges Road railroad bridge. Multiple species showed levels of various PAHs high enough to warrant an advisory to avoid all consumption. Specific PAHs found in these fish include naphthalene, found in multiple species, and 1- and 2-methylnapthalene and acenaphthylene found only in mountain whitefish. Fish were collected 6.5 river miles upstream of the derailment site near Indian Fort FAS, and 6.2 river miles downstream near Holmgren FAS.

FWP crews previously collected rainbow trout and mountain whitefish from the Yellowstone River below the derailment site to assess human consumption restrictions as a follow-up to the train derailment. This sampling showed elevated levels of phenanthrene, another PAH, in mountain whitefish and a consumption advisory was put in place on Aug. 11 to avoid all consumption of this fish species and motivated the agency to conduct additional sampling. Phenanthrene was not found in any fish during the most recent sampling.

Many species of fish, especially brown and rainbow trout, found in this section of the Yellowstone River migrate seasonally for spawning and to find colder water in the warmer summer months.  Out of an abundance of precaution and unknown conditions in adjacent sections of the river, those with specific concerns may want to avoid consuming all species of fish from the Yellowstone River at any location until more is known on the severity and prevalence of this contamination.

Next Steps

The source of the PAHs remains unknown. Determining a specific source could be challenging, as PAHs, including those found in these fish, are present in many common materials. Some PAHs occur naturally in the environment, especially in the shale rock common in the Yellowstone River Basin. PAHs are also found in products such as oil, gas, plastics, and pesticides—and are produced through combustion of these products.

Further testing is still needed to determine the potential contamination source and long-term guidance. FWP plans to expand sampling on the Yellowstone River to further understand the extent of PAHs for human consumption concerns. Final plans for this additional sampling are still being discussed by FWP, DEQ, and DPHHS, but will include sampling fish from locations on the Yellowstone River further upstream and further downstream of the derailment site.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the International Agency for Research on Cancer have classified naphthalene, 1-methylnaphthalene, and 2-methylnaphthalene as possibly cancer-causing in humans. The other two PAHs that have been detected in fish tissue samples, phenanthrene and acenaphthene, have not been classified as cancer-causing chemicals. Other health effects from ingesting high levels of PAHs that have been shown in animal studies include effects on the gastrointestinal system, immune system, reproductive system, kidneys and skin. These effects from eating fish have not been recorded in humans.

For more information on PAHs, including the specific PAHs found in the fish tissue samples, visit: www.atsdr.cdc.gov/csem/polycyclic-aromatic-hydrocarbons/health_effects.html.

The Yellowstone Art Museum is now calling for submissions for the Artist-in-Residence program! Now in its 17th year, apply to be our next resident to practice in the same space as some of Montana’s most celebrated artists. Enjoy 24-hour access to the 800-square-foot Gary and Melissa Oakland Artist in Residence Studio inside the Visible Vault. Connect with new audiences, expand your practice, and become a member of the YAM Family!

Duration and Dates
• Applications are due by Monday, October 9th, 2023, and will be reviewed beginning Friday, October 13th, 2023; applicants will be contacted the following week.  
• Our residency program begins in mid-January. The duration will depend upon the scope of the artist’s proposal and the applicant pool.    

How to Apply  
Residences are selected based on their work's merit, interest in public interaction, and the scope of their artistic investigation. To apply, please complete the following application and return it to YAM’s Curatorial Assistant, Kimberly Gaitonde, by email at curatorialassistant@artmuseum.org or by mail to Yellowstone Art Museum, ATTN: Curatorial Assistant, 401 North 27th Street, Billings, MT 59101:
• Resume
• Artist Bio and Statement
• Concise proposal stating interest and scope of work to be produced while in residence and preference for residency duration and weekly availability. *
• Images of relevant work with corresponding title, date, medium, and dimensions.
Professional reference(s)  
* Housed in the Visible Vault alongside the Museum’s collection, there are some limitations in media use (no open flame, toxic fumes, dust, etc.).

Studio Location and Conditions
The Studio is located within the Visible Vault collection storage building:  
505 N 26th Street, Billings, MT 59101.

• Artists will have 24-hour secured access to the 800-square-foot Gary and Melissa Oakland Artist in Residence Studio.

Requirements
• The Artist-in-residence must maintain at least 20 hours weekly in the studio.  
• Coordinate occasional school studio visits with the Education department.  
• Maintain an open studio and Interact with the visiting public during special events such as First Fridays and Art Walk.
• Hold an exhibition of the work completed during the residency in the Visible Vault exhibition space.  
• Housing is NOT provided.   

BOZEMAN — Youth across Montana who would like to enroll in Montana 4-H are invited to do so during the month of October.

Montana 4-H is the youth development program of Montana State University Extension. It offers a range of choices and opportunities for youth to learn and grow, such as cooking or sewing, learning about conservation and robotics or raising an animal, while instilling employable life skills. In all, Montana 4-H offers more than 200 different projects and experiences that engage youth in learning. It is the largest out-of-school youth development program in the state, reaching nearly 20,000 youth in all 56 counties each year.

In general, individuals aged 8 to 18 are eligible to participate in Montana 4-H. Some counties also offer a program known as Cloverbuds for children ages 5 to 8.

The cost to join varies by county; in many counties in Montana, it is about $20. More information is available at www.montana.edu/extension/4h/join/index.html.

Montana 4-H is also seeking adult volunteers to work with 4-H youth as partners in hands-on learning. Volunteer enrollment is ongoing.

According to Todd Kesner, director of the 4-H Center for Youth Development, volunteers are vital to carrying out the program's mission and vision. Montana's 4-H youth development program relies on volunteers with varying schedules and interests to:

• Provide expertise in educational project areas such as photography, agriculture, food and nutrition, rocketry, robotics, public speaking and more.
• Guide youth in learning and exploration.
• Engage youth in service opportunities in communities.
• Ensure leadership for 4-H club management.
• Build a safe, caring and nurturing environment and relationships with youth.

Volunteers must be 19 years or older; in addition, some age restrictions apply for chaperoning responsibilities. More information is available at www.montana.edu/extension/4h/volunteer/index.html#How.

Youth and adults interested in joining or volunteering for Montana 4-H are invited to contact their local MSU Extension office. For more information about Montana 4-H, visit montana.edu/4h.

BIG SKY, MT  — In a groundbreaking move towards sustainable operations, Big Sky Resort is proud to announce the resort’s transition to a cleaner and better-performing fuel: 99% renewable diesel.



Renewable diesel, also known as hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), serves as a drop-in replacement for conventional petroleum diesel without requiring any engine modifications. Renewable diesel is derived from agricultural byproducts, such as animal fats and cooking oils, making it a responsible and renewable alternative to fossil fuels. 



The resort's shift to renewable diesel comes as part of an effort to reduce carbon emissions to net zero, as outlined in the resort’s ForeverProject 2030 Master Plan. Through this transition, Big Sky Resort anticipates a substantial 60% reduction in emissions in the first year.  



“By embracing renewable diesel, we’re demonstrating that this lower-carbon HVO diesel is friendly to burn in modern heavy equipment, and a viable alternative for others looking for an environmentally-conscious option,” said Taylor Middleton, the resort’s president and chief operating officer.   



Big Sky Resort's choice to utilize an R99 blend of renewable diesel demonstrates a commitment to the cleanest and most effective form of HVO. The resort is currently utilizing renewable diesel in snowcats, trucks, and equipment, and even extending its usage to contractors who fill up at the resort's fuel pump.  

"Renewable diesel offers a substantial solution for us, especially since there are currently no viable alternatives for fully electric snowcats or construction equipment,” said Amy Fonte, the resort’s sustainability specialist. “Achieving a 60% reduction in emissions is a significant step forward."  



In addition to the resort’s efforts, R50 renewable diesel is now available to the public in Belgrade at the Commercial Fueling Network, enabling the community to adopt cleaner fuel sources. “In partnership with Big Sky Resort and Yellowstone Teton Clean Cities Coalition, Parkland USA is proud to be the first to provide renewable diesel in the Gallatin Valley and Montana, marking a significant stride towards sustainability,” said Cole Mort, business development manager, Parkland USA.  



"Yellowstone-Teton Clean Cities is thrilled to have helped Big Sky Resort embrace the recent accessibility of this superior fuel while demonstrating the feasibility of swift and effective action towards substantial reductions in carbon emissions, said Jesse Therien of Yellowstone-Teton Clean Cities. “While many are contemplating the transition to renewable diesel, the proactive leadership demonstrated by Big Sky Resort in concert with the efforts of Parkland USA and Farstad Oil will enable consumers and fleet operators across Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho to realize this possibility."  

BOZEMAN — For a fifth straight year, Montana State University recorded an all-time high for research expenditures — the funding put toward scientific discovery and other scholastic and creative pursuits. MSU is the largest research enterprise in the state, and its total expenditures exceed the research expenditures of all other institutions in the state combined.

MSU’s annual report to the National Science Foundation showed that its research activities accounted for roughly $230 million in expenditures during the fiscal year that ended in June. That figure is a 14% increase over the prior year, which was the first time in Montana history that research expenditures at an institution of higher education ever topped $200 million.

"Montana State's steadily growing research enterprise serves the people of Montana in a variety of ways," said Alison Harmon, MSU’s vice president for research and economic development. "Research is an engine for economic growth, and many of MSU’s projects are developing innovations that can be commercialized and stimulate small business growth across the state."

The vast majority of dollars spent on MSU research come from federal grants and are won through competitive applications, Harmon noted. Roughly 90%, or about $207 million, came from federal sources including the Department of Defense, NSF, NASA and the Department of Health and Human Services. Most of the remaining 10% is from private foundations and donors, with 2% coming from the state of Montana.

The university’s record expenditures in 2022-2023 directly supported 858 undergraduates, up from 755 last year, providing funding through programs like MSU’s Undergraduate Scholars Program for students to work on research projects. The funds also supported 612 graduate students and 53 postdoctoral researchers.

"MSU prides itself on providing undergraduates with research opportunities, and this data shows we're expanding those opportunities and really getting students involved in hands-on, purpose-driven work that contributes to them completing their degrees and graduating," Harmon said. "These are our future researchers and business leaders."

A total of 238 faculty and professional staff served as principal investigators on grant projects, and 639 faculty received support from research dollars. During the fiscal year MSU researchers were awarded 524 new grants or contracts totaling $166 million — funding that will support research as it is spent over coming years.

“Competition for research dollars is fierce, and the success our faculty and research staff show in securing funds is indicative of the quality of their scientific and creative pursuits,” said Bob Mokwa, MSU’s executive vice president of academic affairs and provost. “This is research that will have a tangible impact, both on the Montana communities we serve and on the lives and educations of the students we teach.”

Exceeding $200 million in research expenditures by 2024 is a goal set forth in MSU’s strategic plan, “Choosing Promise,” and is part of the university’s larger goal of achieving the highest standards of research and creative outcomes. MSU first met that goal last year — two years ahead of schedule.

Among MSU’s academic colleges, the College of Agriculture recorded the largest figure at $50 million, followed by the College of Letters and Science at $29 million. MSU's Norm Asbjornson College of Engineering had $23 million in expenditures, while the Mark and Robyn Jones College of Nursing had a total of $14 million and the College of Education, Health and Human Development had $6 million. MilTech at MSU recorded the largest figure of any university program, at $35 million.

MSU is one of only 146 institutions in the U.S. to receive an R1 designation for its very high research activity by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, and among those, MSU and Utah State University are the only two that also have an enrollment profile of “very high undergraduate.”

Highlights from the past year include:

• Backed by a $20 million NSF grant, MSU is leading a new project to understand the behavior and social impact of prescribed fires by developing new technologies for real-time monitoring and advancing collaborative relationships between researchers and educators across the state.

• Building on nearly five years of helping the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security improve methods for resisting cyberattacks, MSU researchers are leading a new effort to reduce software vulnerabilities across a wide range of systems under a $4.47 million, three-year DHS contract award.

• NSF’s Regional Innovation Engines program is driving a pair of $1 million MSU projects to leverage MSU research to grow regional economic opportunities — one involving the use of photonics technology for precision agriculture, the other for quantum technology that’s set to play a critical role in 21st century communications, computing and other fields

• Faculty and students from MSU’s Mark and Robyn Jones College of Nursing are collaborating on a $1.9 million cancer care project, one of seven nationwide funded by the Merck Foundation, aimed at providing easier access to cancer care for rural Montanans.

• Angela Des Jardins in MSU’s College of Letters and Science is leading a project, funded with $6.5 million from NSF, that will give several hundred undergraduate students from around the country a unique experience conducting scientific experiments and livestreaming video to NASA during the 2024 total solar eclipse.

• Collaborators in MSU’s College of Education, Health and Human Development are working on a project, funded with $4.1 million from the U.S. Department of Education, to train school and mental health counselors to work in rural Montana.

• Two researchers in MSU’s College of Letters and Science received prestigious NSF CAREER awards totaling $1.25 million. Blair Davey in the Department of Mathematical Sciences is advancing a mathematical tool that can be used to model natural phenomena like electromagnetism, astronomy and fluid dynamics, while Amy Reines in the Department of Physics is researching the relationships between massive black holes and the properties of the small galaxies that host them.

• MSU’s Montana Manufacturing Extension Center at Montana State University was awarded $400,000 through the National Institute of Standards and Technology to offer a variety of trainings and services to help Montana manufacturers more easily access parts and materials from domestic suppliers.

• Stephanie Wettstein in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering is working on a $450,000 NSF-funded project to develop improved methods of making a bio-based plastic from agricultural biomass that would otherwise sit in farmers’ fields.

• MSU’s nursing college, backed by $3.9 million from the U.S. Health Resources Services Administration, is working to deliver quality medical, dental and behavioral health care to kids in rural and underserved areas of Montana while providing exceptional educational opportunities for MSU students.

• The ceramics program in MSU’s College of Arts and Architecture recently acquired three new high-tech kilns that have helped students develop their craft more quickly and efficiently.

• Roland Hatzenpichler in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry received a prestigious $1.7 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to advance tools for better understanding the human gut microbiome, which is implicated in a variety of health disorders.

• MSU’s Jake Jabs College of Business and Entrepreneurship earned another five years of accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, the world’s oldest and most renowned business school accreditation organization.

• Eric Sproles in the Department of Earth Sciences was awarded $750,000 from NASA to fine-tune measurements of sunlight reflecting off snow in order to help calibrate instruments on the satellites that are used to manage water resources.

• MSU’s nursing college was awarded a grant of nearly $4 million from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for a project aimed at increasing the number of qualified clinical nursing faculty and preceptors in Montana and the surrounding region to meet rising demand for nursing professionals.

HELENA – Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is seeking public comment on two environmental assessments (EAs). For more information, including how to submit comments, click on the link provided or visit fwp.mt.gov/public-notices.

White Bear Fishing Access Site EA

FWP is proposing a project to provide security features and develop additional recreational amenities to mitigate undesirable and illegal public behavior at White Bear FAS near Great Falls.

The proposed project would provide the following benefits:

• Provide additional security features to increase the safety and security of the public who visit the FAS;
• Provide additional recreational amenities to attract desirable use of the FAS and provide opportunities for nature viewing, fishing, walking, biking, dog walking and learning about the natural, cultural and historical resources unique to the area;
• Reduce the undesirable and illegal use of the FAS;
• Eliminate commission-imposed seasonal closures, keeping the FAS open year around.

FWP’s objective would be to begin work in early 2024 and complete the project by the fall of 2024.

Comments due Sept. 26.

Peters Pond EA

A private landowner is applying for a Private Fish Pond License and proposes to stock largemouth bass, crappie (black or white) and bluegill in an unnamed private pond. Bluegill are not authorized to stock in private ponds in Region 4 per Montana FWP Fisheries Division policy and are therefore not considered in this analysis and will not be permitted. The pond is located on an unnamed tributary of Box Elder Creek near the town of Roy with no documented fish presence. The project is sponsored by the private landowner and the license would be active for a period of 10 years from the year of issuance (2023). The license can be renewed for additional 10-year intervals at the end of each term and the license is transferable.

Comments due Sept. 28.

WEST YELLOWSTONE – On Sept. 15, 9-year-old Sarah Simons of Texas was sworn in as Montana’s first ever honorary game warden. The ceremony occurred at the community center in West Yellowstone during a vacation to Yellowstone National Park with her family.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Chief of Law Enforcement Ron Howell presided over the ceremony and administered the oath of office to Sarah in front of her family and several other Montana game wardens. Upon completing the oath of office, Sarah was immediately promoted to the rank of sergeant.

According to her website, www.sarahswarriors.com, Sarah has been interested in law enforcement since she was very young. She also has battled severe life-threatening, incurable diseases since birth. While undergoing treatment police officers from New Jersey sent her a “battle box” of gifts and items to encourage her to keep fighting. After receiving this box, Sarah’s mission became clear, to pay it forward and to send battle boxes to other kids fighting life-threatening diseases. Her mission has grown into a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public charity dedicated to sending packages to other children.

“Sarah’s courage in the face of life-threatening adversity and her selfless dedication to helping others are in keeping with the highest traditions of law enforcement and exemplify the values that Montana game wardens live by,” said Howell. “Sarah is an inspiration to us all and we are honored to have her join our ranks.”

For more information about Sarah and her mission, go to www.sarahswarriors.com or visit her Facebook page.

BOZEMAN, Montana (Sept. 18, 2023) – On Sept. 19, Bozeman City Commission will consider an ordinance that would regulate the time, place, and manner in which people can camp in the right-of-way. The item comes before the Commission after being continued during the Aug. 8 meeting due to the lateness of the hour. Since then, the draft ordinance has been reviewed by the Transportation Board and Economic Vitality Board. The goal of the proposed ordinance is to help the city better maintain its infrastructure and keep people safe, including those who are experiencing homelessness.

“One of the main things we have heard is concern around the time element which requires people to move to a different street after five days,” City Manager Jeff Mihelich stated. “This is a starting point that is meant to address the need to move vehicles regularly to properly sweep or plow the road, and we wrote the ordinance to be flexible on this based on individual circumstances. We hope all understand that we aim to be compassionate first as we look to manage impacts to our infrastructure.”

The proposed ordinance allows people to stay in the public right-of-way in a vehicle for up to five days if they are homeless and no other form of shelter is available. After five days, they must move to a different street. Additionally, people may not camp adjacent or across from a residence, park, school, or daycare, or within 100 feet of a business entrance. Other parts of the draft ordinance include that people must maintain clean and orderly spaces with no trash or personal items stored outside their vehicles.

In working with those who are experiencing homelessness, the City must comply with case law from the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals including Martin v. City of Boise and Johnson v. City of Grants Pass. These cases recognize people experiencing homelessness have a constitutional right to keep themselves warm and dry while sleeping when there are no other forms of shelter available. The proposed regulations continue to protect this constitutional right, meaning people can and will be allowed to sleep in the right-of-way.

The city is implementing a tiered strategy to address houselessness. In the short term, staff are in the process of hiring Health and Safety Compliance Officers to help connect people to services and maintain a clean community. For the mid-and long-term, the city is working with HRDC to build a permanent shelter and working to increase the housing supply for people at every level.

Within the community, some residents have cited safety concerns around this population. However, recent reports from Bozeman Police have not shown a dramatic increase in overall crime. Additionally, some have called for a dedicated camping area for unhoused residents. The City has researched this option but has identified numerous issues. Those staying in the right-of-way cannot be forced to move to the campground and areas can be costly, from land value to hiring security to managing the site.

Those interested in more information on the city’s houselessness work can contact the City Manager’s office at 406-582-2306.

HELENA – By order of the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission, the hunting of all bighorn sheep will close in Hunting District (HD) 501, one-half hour after sunset on Tuesday, Sept. 19. 

The bighorn sheep quota in this HD has been met. For more information, visit FWP’s website at fwp.mt.gov/hunt/by-species to check the current quota status, or call the toll-free number at 1-800-385-7826.