Concern over farmland damage by elk around the Department of Energy’s Idaho National Laboratory has federal and state authorities considering a plan to widen the hunting boundary around the DOE complex.
DOE, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality are in the midst of a 30-day comment period on whether to expand the hunting area by about 80 square miles. The trio of agencies are taking comments until Dec. 21.
In 1989, DOE and the Idaho Department of Fish & Game lifted a hunting ban in an effort to curb crop damage from big game, mostly elk and pronghorn antelope, “to allow limited hunting on the INL (Idaho National Laboratory) site within 0.5 miles of the agricultural fields on an as-needed basis,” according to the comment document.
Although the 1989 agreement was modified multiple times during the 1990s, the big game continues to take a big bite out of the bottom line of farming operations near the 890-square mile federal complex, according to the recent comments document. “Despite the hunting agreement, elk herd size has increased to an estimated 400 to 600 animals.”
As a result, 2023 claims by properties around laboratory land was more than $379,000, according to the comments document. “Claimants are limited to $125,000 per year, resulting in some producers not receiving full reimbursement.” Then there are sizable indirect costs of the herd’s damage, including installation of more than 3,200 feet of metal panels and 12,000 feet of plastic netting.”
The proposed expansion affects four areas covered by EPA’s Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act or Superfund records of decision. “The proposed expansion represents a significant incremental increase in the potential for public exposure to [unexploded] ordnance because previously restricted areas would be accessible by the public for hunting,” according to the hunting comment document.
The comment period started Nov. 22.
