FWS rejects Wyoming rule petition
by Cat Urbigkit, Pinedale Online!
July 14, 2007
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service denied Wyoming’s petition to amend the 1994 special rule to manage wolves in the northern Rocky Mountains.
FWS determined that the 1994 and 2005 10(j) special rules, the proposed revisions to the 2005 10(j) special rule published on July 6, 2007, and past and ongoing wolf control efforts already adequately address the concerns raised by the State of Wyoming in its petition dated July 1,2005.
The State of Wyoming’s petition proposed four changes:
• requiring FWS, or a designated agent, to lethally control wolves causing livestock depredation;
• allowing states to determine unacceptable impacts to wild ungulate herds caused by wolves;
• requiring FWS, or a designated agent, to lethally control or relocate wolves arassing elk at feed grounds; and
• requiring FWS to compensate livestock producers for losses caused by wolves.
FWS’s proposed modification to the 10(j) special rule is open for public comment until August 6, 2007. FWS believes the proposed modifications for states and tribes with approved wolf management plans would further address the first three issues Wyoming raised in its July 1, 2005 petition.
As for the fourth issue, FWS notes that the agency “does not have the requisite statutory authority to provide monetary compensation for loss or damage to private property caused by a listed species.”
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