Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 129 / Friday, July 6, 2007 / Proposed Rules 36939 

transaction does not relieve the other 

taxable parties of their obligation to 

disclose the transaction to a tax-exempt 

entity that is a party to the transaction 

in accordance with this section, if the 

designated taxable party fails to disclose 

the transaction to the tax-exempt entity 

in a timely manner. 

(i) Penalty for failure to provide 

disclosure statement. See section 6707A 

for penalties applicable to failure to 

disclose a prohibited tax shelter 

transaction in accordance with this 

section. 

(j) Effective/applicability date. This 

section will apply with respect to 

transactions entered into by a taxexempt entity after May 17, 2006. 

Par. 11. Section 301.6033–5 is added 

to read as follows: 

§ 301.6033–5 Disclosure by tax-exempt 

entities that are parties to certain reportable 

transactions. 

[The text of this section is the same 

as the text of § 301.6033–5T published 

elsewhere in this issue of the Federal 

Register]. 

Kevin M. Brown, 

Deputy Commissioner for Services and 

Enforcement. 

[FR Doc. E7–12902 Filed 7–5–07; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4830–01–P 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

Fish and Wildlife Service 

50 CFR Part 17 

RIN 1018–AU53 

Endangered and Threatened Wildlife 

and Plants; Designating the Northern 

Rocky Mountain Population of Gray 

Wolf as a Distinct Population Segment 

and Removing This Distinct Population 

Segment From the Federal List of 

Endangered and Threatened Wildlife 

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, 

Interior. 

ACTION: Proposed rule; reopening of 

comment period; notice of public 

hearing. 

SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife 

Service (Service, we or us) announces 

the reopening of the comment period for 

the proposed rule to establish a distinct 

population segment (DPS) of the gray 

wolf (Canis lupis) in the Northern Rocky 

Mountains (NRM) of the United States 

and to remove the gray wolf in the NRM 

DPS from the List of Endangered and 

Threatened Wildlife under the 

Endangered Species Act of 1973, as 

amended (Act). The State of Wyoming 

has a new statute and has advised the 

Service that it is appropriate to analyze 

a new draft wolf management plan that 

the Service believes could allow the 

wolves in northwestern Wyoming 

outside the National Parks to be 

removed from the protections of the Act. 

We are reopening the proposal’s 

comment period to ensure that the 

public has full access to, and an 

opportunity to comment on, the 

proposed rule in light of this new 

information. We also announce the 

location and time of an additional 

public hearing to receive public 

comments on the proposal in light of the 

new information. If you have previously 

submitted comments, please do not 

resubmit them because we have already 

incorporated them in the public record 

and will fully consider them in our final 

decision. 

DATES: The public comment period is 

reopened until August 6, 2007. We may 

not consider any comments we receive 

after the closing date. We will hold a 

public hearing on this proposed rule on 

July 17, 2007. For more information, see 

‘‘Public Hearing and Comments’’ below. 

Public Hearing 

An open house (a brief presentation 

about the proposed rule and revised 

plan with a question and answer period) 

will be held from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., 

and will be followed by a public hearing 

from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., on July 17, 

2007, at the Cody Auditorium Facility, 

1240 Beck Avenue, Cody, WY 82414. 

ADDRESSES: If you wish to comment, 

you may submit comments and 

materials concerning this proposal, 

identified by ‘‘RIN number 1018–

AU53,’’ by any of the following 

methods: 

1. You may submit comments through 

the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal at 

http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the 

instructions for submitting comments. 

2. You may send comments by 

electronic mail (email) directly to the 

Service at WesternGrayWolf@fws.gov. 

Include ‘‘RIN number 1018–AU53’’ in 

the subject line of the message. 

3. You may mail or hand-deliver 

comments to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife 

Service, Western Gray Wolf Recovery 

Coordinator, 585 Shepard Way, Helena, 

MT 59601. 

Comments and materials received, as 

well as supporting documentation used 

in preparation of this proposed action, 

will be available for inspection 

following the close of the comment 

period, by appointment, during normal 

business hours, at our Helena office at 

the address above. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Edward E. Bangs, Western Gray Wolf 

Recovery Coordinator, U.S. Fish and 

Wildlife Service, at our Helena office 

(see ADDRESSES) or telephone (406) 449–

5225, extension 204. Persons who use a 

Telecommunications Device for the Deaf 

may call the Federal Information Relay 

Service at (800) 877–8339, 24 hours a 

day, 7 days a week. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background 

On February 8, 2007, we published a 

proposal to establish a DPS of the gray 

wolf in the NRM of the United States 

and to remove the NRM DPS from the 

List of Threatened and Endangered 

Wildlife (72 FR 6106) if Wyoming 

adopted a state law and management 

plan that adequately conserved wolves. 

The initial comment period on this 

proposal was open from February 8, 

2007 to April 9, 2007. Due to the 

complexity of this proposed action, we 

extended the comment period to May 9, 

2007 to allow the public ample 

opportunity to comment (72 FR 14760; 

March 29, 2007). 

At the time of this proposal, Wyoming 

had not provided an adequate regulatory 

framework to ensure conservation of a 

recovered wolf population into the 

foreseeable future (for more information, 

see our 12-month finding on Wyoming’s 

petition to establish and delist the NRM 

gray wolf population (71 FR 43410; 

August 1, 2006) at http://www.fws.gov/ 

mountain-prairie/species/mammals/ 

wolf/FR08012006.pdf). Therefore, in the 

preamble we indicated we would 

consider excluding the significant 

portion of the range of the NRM DPS 

occurring in Wyoming, outside 

Yellowstone National Park, John D. 

Rockefeller Jr. Memorial Parkway, and 

Grand Teton National Park (hereafter 

collectively referred to as National 

Parks) from the delisting. This 

alternative in the preamble also 

considered delisting the wolf on 

National Park Service lands and in those 

portions of Wyoming not determined to 

be a significant portion of the range. The 

exact boundaries are described in the 

proposed rule (72 FR 6119; February 8, 

2007). A map can be found at 

http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/ 

species/mammals/wolf/ 

wyomingwolves2006.pdf. However, the 

rule proposed to delist all of the NRM 

DPS if Wyoming adopted a State law 

and wolf management plan that the 

Service determined to be in compliance 

with the Act (72 FR 6138; February 8, 

2007). 


rmajette on PROD1PC64 with PROPOSALS
36940 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 129 / Friday, July 6, 2007 / Proposed Rules 

New Information 

In February 2007, the Wyoming 

governor signed legislation (Wyoming 

House Bill 213) that proposes to revise 

Wyoming State statutes pertaining to 

wolf management. If this were to 

become effective, it would appear to 

allow for adequate wolf management by 

the Wyoming Game and Fish 

Department (WGFD). Furthermore, in 

May 2007, the Governor of Wyoming 

stated it was appropriate to analyze a 

revised wolf management plan that 

would maintain a recovered wolf 

population for the foreseeable future 

(Freudenthal 2007). This draft wolf 

management plan requires final State 

approval from the Wyoming Game and 

Fish Commission (Commission) and 

may require further legislative action so 

that certain recent changes in State law 

could become effective. 

The legislation contains a list of 

actions that are to occur for the law to 

become effective. These actions are 

summarized below and may be viewed 

in the House bill at http://gf.state.wy.us/ 

downloads/pdf/HB0213%

202007%20Wolf%20Engrossed.pdf. 

(1) On or before February 29, 2008, 

the Service shall have published the 

final rule to delist the gray wolf in the 

entire State of Wyoming; and 

(2) The Service has either published 

a final rule modifying the existing 2005 

special regulation under section 10(j) of 

the Act or has executed an agreement 

with the State of Wyoming that provides 

adequate protection for Wyoming’s wild 

ungulates; and 

(3) All claims in the lawsuit brought 

by the State of Wyoming contesting the 

Service’s actions finding Wyoming’s 

statute and plan inadequate have been 

resolved or settled; and 

(4) The governor of Wyoming shall 

certify to the Secretary of State of 

Wyoming that the actions described in 

the statute have occurred. 

The revised wolf management plan 

provides that the designation of wolves 

as a trophy game animal shall include 

any gray wolf within the boundaries 

that are now consistent with those the 

Service has deemed necessary for 

maintaining a recovered wolf 

population. For specific boundaries, see 

the House bill at the above website and 

the revised management plan. 

When effective, this law and wolf 

management plan would commit the 

State to maintain at least 15 breeding 

pairs in the northwestern portion of the 

State including the National Parks, with 

7 of these breeding pairs occupying 

areas outside the National Parks. The 

State of Wyoming would ensure that 

Wyoming’s wolf population, including 

wolves in National Parks, never drops 

below 10 breeding pairs and 100 wolves 

(WGFD 2007, p. 1). Furthermore, the 

plan now incorporates the Service’s 

definition of a breeding pair as an adult 

male and female raising two or more 

pups-of-the-year until December 31 

(WGFD 2007, pp. 1–3; 72 FR 6129, 

February 8, 2007). 

Under this law and plan, if the NRM 

DPS is delisted, Wyoming would 

designate the gray wolf as a trophy game 

animal in the area that conforms to our 

determination of the significant portion 

of the range in Wyoming (72 FR 6119; 

February 8, 2007). Outside this area in 

Wyoming, wolves would be classified as 

predatory animals (WGFD 2007, pp. 1, 

2, 4, 5, 10). These designations would 

remain constant regardless of changes in 

the number of breeding pairs in the 

State. 

Since the State does not have the legal 

authority to manage wolves within the 

National Parks, its management 

emphasis would be applied to 

maintaining seven breeding pairs that 

primarily inhabit areas outside the 

National Parks (WGFD 2007, p. 10). 

Because the State also does not have any 

authority to manage wildlife occurring 

on the Wind River Reservation, the 

Tribes are not obligated under the 

State’s wolf management plan to 

manage for a specific number of wolves. 

Any breeding pairs that might become 

established on the reservation would 

not reduce Wyoming’s commitment to 

maintain at least seven breeding pairs 

outside the National Parks in 

northwestern Wyoming. WGFD will 

continue to coordinate with appropriate 

authorities on the Reservation for the 

purpose of developing mutually 

agreeable wolf management objectives 

(WGFD 2007, p. 10). 

The wolf trophy game area would be 

designated as the Northwest Wyoming 

Wolf Data Analysis Unit (DAU) and 

would consist of three wolf management 

units (WMU). WGFD uses such an 

approach to manage all other species of 

big game and trophy game animals. The 

DAU is used to manage a population of 

animals, while WMUs are used to 

manage specific harvest objectives 

within the DAU. Wolves that occupy the 

DAU would be actively managed, and 

public take would be regulated under 

appropriate State statutes and 

Commission regulations at the WMU 

level to ensure that at least seven 

breeding pairs occupy this DAU (WGFD 

2007, p. 10). The size of the DAU would 

allow for some flexibility where the 

minimum of seven breeding pairs would 

be maintained. In the event pack 

densities need to be reduced in one area 

to minimize wildlife or livestock 

conflicts, WGFD would manage for 

replacement breeding pairs in an area 

within the DAU that is more suitable for 

wolves (WGFD 2007, p. 11). 

Hunting and trapping regulations 

would be implemented through the 

same rulemaking processes used for 

other trophy game animals in Wyoming 

and would include public input. WGFD 

may use a variety of harvest regimes, 

including harvest quotas, to maintain at 

least seven breeding pairs of wolves 

outside the National Parks. Seasons 

would be closed when the mortality 

quota is reached, or if the Commission 

deems it necessary to limit take in 

additional areas that are designated for 

trophy game animal protection. The 

wolf management plan states that, as 

with mountain lions (Puma concolor) 

and black bears (Ursus americanus), 

license sales would not be restricted 

unless limited quota harvest regimes are 

necessary. We anticipate that a limited 

harvest quota would likely be necessary 

for WGFD to maintain at least seven 

breeding pairs outside the National 

Parks in northwestern Wyoming. Wolf 

mortality quotas would be based on 

desired pack densities for each WMU 

and total numbers of packs at the DAU 

level (WGFD 2007, p. 15). 

It is currently unlawful in Wyoming 

to take trophy game animals by 

trapping. However, if delisted, gray 

wolves classified as trophy game 

animals could be legally trapped as set 

forth by Wyoming Statute 23–2–303(d). 

In the event of delisting, WGFD would 

first need to adopt regulations setting 

forth the specifications for traps and 

snares used for the taking of gray wolves 

(WGFD 2007, p. 16). 

In recognition of the importance of 

sufficient dispersal and exchange of 

wolves in maintaining genetic 

variability, WGFD would not remove 

lone wolves dispersing through areas 

outside of the trophy game area unless 

conflicts with human activities arise. 

However, wolves in these areas may be 

subject to liberal public take regulations. 

Public education efforts would 

emphasize that lone wolf sightings do 

not necessarily mean a pack is forming 

in the area (WGFD 2007, p. 17). 

The wolf management plan 

emphasizes that interagency efforts to 

maintain linkage zones and movement 

corridors in the northern Rockies for 

grizzly bears (Ursus arctos horribilis), 

forest carnivores, and big game will also 

benefit wolves. WGFD commits, to the 

extent practicable, to ensure that genetic 

and connectivity issues do not threaten 

Wyoming’s wolf population. 

Conservation measures could include, 

but would not be limited to, working 

with other States to promote natural 


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Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 129 / Friday, July 6, 2007 / Proposed Rules 36941 

dispersal into and within various 

portions of the Greater Yellowstone 

Area, and, if necessary, by relocation or 

translocation (WGFD 2007, p. 17). 

Under the new wolf management 

plan, WGFD would monitor the number 

of breeding pairs residing in Wyoming, 

regardless of legal classification, and 

document their distribution, 

reproduction, and mortality. WGFD 

would be responsible for monitoring 

these parameters in all occupied habitat 

outside of National Parks, the National 

Elk Refuge, and the Wind River 

Reservation. The National Park Service 

intends to continue to monitor wolves 

inside the National Parks, and the 

Service intends to monitor wolves on 

the National Elk Refuge. WGFD would 

coordinate and share monitoring data 

with these agencies, Montana, Idaho, 

and Tribes. WGFD would monitor 

wolves outside the DAU less intensively 

(WGFD 2007, p. 12). 

In conclusion, it appears the 

regulatory framework provided by the 

State statute and proposed revised wolf 

management plan, would if adopted, 

provide assurance that Wyoming’s share 

of the tri-State NRM wolf population 

would be maintained above recovery 

levels into the foreseeable future and 

that a significant portion of the range in 

Wyoming would continue to be 

occupied by wolf packs. This type of 

management framework is consistent in 

its general principles with those already 

adopted and accepted as being adequate 

regulatory frameworks for delisting 

wolves in the States of Minnesota, 

Michigan, Wisconsin, Montana, and 

Idaho. The plan would provide 

adequate assurances that a viable wolf 

population would be maintained in the 

NRM DPS. However, if the statute does 

not go into effect or if the plan is not 

adopted by the Commission, our final 

rulemaking could employ the 

alternative described in the preamble to 

the February 18, 2007, proposed rule to 

keep wolves in the significant portion of 

their range (outside the National Parks) 

in Wyoming as a nonessential 

experimental population with 

continued protections under the Act. 

The February 8, 2007, proposed rule 

may be viewed at http://www.fws.gov/ 

mountain-prairie/species/mammals/ 

wolf/ 

NRM_wolf_DPS_%2002082007.pdf. The 

revised draft Wyoming wolf 

management plan may be viewed at 

http://gf.state.wy.us/wildlife/ 

wildlife_management/wolf/index.asp. 

In addition to having new information 

regarding State management of wolves 

in Wyoming, the Wind River 

Reservation recently submitted a wolf 

management plan to us for approval. 

Wolf management on Tribal lands 

within the NRM DPS will be beneficial, 

but is not necessary to either achieving 

or maintaining a recovered wolf 

population in the NRM (72 FR 6135; 

February 8, 2007). 

The Wind River Reservation occurs 

just outside the significant portion of 

the range in northwestern Wyoming and 

currently does not solely support any 

breeding pairs, although two adjacent 

packs range inside the reservation 

boundary (Shoshone and Arapahoe 

Tribal Fish and Game Department 2007, 

pp. 4–5). As such, the Shoshone and 

Arapahoe Tribal Fish and Game 

Department has prepared a wolf 

management plan for the reservation for 

our review. 

We have approved the Tribal plan 

because it is consistent with 

maintaining a recovered population of 

wolves in Wyoming after delisting and 

the guidelines of the 2005 10(j) rule 

(King 2007). Our approval of the plan 

provides the Shoshone and Arapahoe 

Tribal Fish and Game Department with 

the ability to manage listed wolves 

according to provisions for controlling 

problem wolves in our 2005 special 

regulation under section 10(j) of the Act 

(70 FR 1286, January 6, 2005). If the 

wolf is delisted, the Shoshone and 

Arapahoe Tribal Fish and Game 

Department would designate it as a 

game animal and would establish 

hunting and trapping seasons (Shoshone 

and Arapahoe Tribal Fish and Game 

Department 2007, p. 9). The Shoshone 

and Arapahoe Tribal Fish and Game 

Department would not manage for a 

specific number of breeding pairs 

(Shoshone and Arapahoe Tribal Fish 

and Game Department 2007, p. 9), 

because the Wind River Reservation is 

not considered essential to maintaining 

a recovered wolf population in 

Wyoming. Any wolves that establish 

themselves on the reservation would be 

in addition to those managed by the 

State of Wyoming for maintaining a 

recovered population. 

The Wind River Reservation plan may 

be viewed at: http://www.fws.gov/ 

mountain-prairie/species/mammals/ 

wolf/Wind_River_Res_

Wolf_Plan_20070413.pdf. 

Public Hearing and Comments 

We intend that any final action 

resulting from the proposal will be as 

accurate and as effective as possible. 

Therefore, we solicit comments or 

suggestions from the public, concerned 

governmental agencies, the scientific 

community, industry, or any other 

interested party concerning the 

proposed rule. Specifically, we seek 

information, data, and comments 

concerning the proposed delisting of all 

of the NRM DPS throughout Wyoming 

considering the adequacy of Wyoming’s 

regulatory framework as represented by 

its revised State law, if adopted, and 

State and Tribal wolf management 

plans. 

If you previously submitted 

comments on the delisting proposal, 

please do not resubmit them, as we have 

already incorporated them into the 

public record and will fully consider 

them in our final decision. However, we 

welcome any new comments pertaining 

to the proposed delisting throughout 

Wyoming in light of the new regulatory 

framework. 

You may submit comments as 

indicated under ADDRESSES. If you wish 

to submit comments by e-mail, please 

submit them in ASCII file format and 

avoid the use of special characters and 

any form of encryption. 

Due to the high level of interest in this 

rulemaking process, we may post 

comments on our Web site. Before 

including your address, phone number, 

e-mail address, or other personal 

identifying information in your 

comment, you should be aware that 

your entire comment—including your 

personal identifying information—may 

be made publicly available at any time. 

While you can ask us in your comment 

to withhold your personal identifying 

information from public review, we 

cannot guarantee that we will be able to 

do so. 

Comments and other information 

received, as well as supporting 

information used to write the proposed 

rule, will be available for public 

inspection, by appointment, during 

normal business hours at the Helena, 

Montana Field Office (see ADDRESSES). 

In making a final decision on the 

proposal, we will take into 

consideration the comments and any 

additional information we receive. Such 

communications may lead to a final 

regulation that differs from the proposal. 

Anyone wishing to make an oral 

statement at the public hearing for the 

record is encouraged to provide a 

written copy of their statement to us at 

the hearing. In the event there is a large 

attendance, the time allotted for oral 

statements may be limited. Speakers can 

sign up only at the open houses and 

hearings. Oral and written statements 

receive equal consideration. There are 

no limits on the length of written 

comments submitted to us. If you have 

any questions concerning the public 

hearing or need reasonable 

accommodations to attend and 

participate in the public hearing, please 

contact Sharon Rose at (303) 236–4580 

as soon as possible, but no later than 1 


rmajette on PROD1PC64 with PROPOSALS
36942 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 129 / Friday, July 6, 2007 / Proposed Rules 

week to before the hearing date, to allow 

sufficient time to process requests. 

Information regarding the proposal is 

available in alternative formats upon 

request. 

Authority 

The authority for this action is the 

Endangered Species Act of 1973, as 

amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). 

Dated: June 28, 2007. 

Kevin Adams, 

Acting Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 

Service. 

[FR Doc. 07–3273 Filed 7–2–07; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4310–55–P 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

Fish and Wildlife Service 

50 CFR Part 17 

RIN 1018–AV39 

Endangered and Threatened Wildlife 

and Plants; Proposed Revision of 

Special Regulation for the Central 

Idaho and Yellowstone Area 

Nonessential Experimental 

Populations of Gray Wolves in the 

Northern Rocky Mountains 

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, 

Interior. 

ACTION: Proposed rule. 

SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and 

Wildlife Service (Service), propose 

revisions to the 2005 special rule for the 

central Idaho and Yellowstone area 

nonessential experimental population of 

the gray wolf (Canis lupus) in the 

northern Rocky Mountains (NRM). 

Specifically, this rule proposes to 

modify the definition of ‘‘unacceptable 

impacts’’ to wild ungulate populations 

so that States and Tribes with Serviceapproved post-delisting wolf 

management plans can better address 

the impacts of a biologically recovered 

wolf population on ungulate 

populations and herds while wolves 

remain listed. We also propose to 

modify the 2005 special rule to allow 

private citizens in States or on Tribal 

lands with approved post-delisting wolf 

management plans to take wolves that 

are in the act of attacking their stock 

animals or dogs. All other provisions of 

the 2005 special rule, including the 

process to obtain Service approval and 

the conditions for reporting all wolf 

take, would remain unchanged. As 

under the existing terms of the 2005 

special rule, these proposed 

modifications would not apply with 

respect to States or Tribes without 

approved post-delisting wolf 

management plans and would not 

impact wolves outside the Yellowstone 

or central Idaho nonessential 

experimental population areas. A draft 

environmental assessment will be 

prepared on this proposed action. 

DATES: Comments from all parties on 

both the proposal and the draft 

environmental assessment must be 

received by August 6, 2007. We will 

hold three public hearings on this 

proposed rule in July. See 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for the 

dates, times, and locations. 

ADDRESSES: If you wish to comment, 

you may submit comments and 

materials concerning this proposal, 

identified by ‘‘RIN 1018–AV39,’’ by any 

of the following methods: 

1. You may mail or hand deliver 

written comments to the U.S. Fish and 

Wildlife Service, Western Gray Wolf 

Recovery Coordinator, 585 Shepard 

Way, Helena, Montana 59601; 

2. You may send comments by 

electronic mail (e-mail) directly to the 

Service at WolfRuleChange@fws.gov. 

Include ‘‘RIN number 1018–Av39’’ in 

the subject line of the message. See the 

Public Comments Solicited section 

below for file format for electronic 

filing; or 

3. You may submit your comments 

through the Federal e-Rulemaking 

Portal—http://www.regulations.gov. 

Follow the instructions for submitting 

comments. 

Comments and materials received, as 

well as supporting documentation used 

in preparation of this proposed action, 

will be available for inspection 

following the close of the comment 

period, by appointment, during normal 

business hours, at our Helena office (see 

ADDRESSES). 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Edward E. Bangs, Western Gray Wolf 

Recovery Coordinator, U.S. Fish and 

Wildlife Service, at our Helena office 

(see ADDRESSES) or telephone (406) 449–

5225, extension 204. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Public Comments Solicited 

We intend that any final action 

resulting from this proposal will be as 

accurate and as effective as possible. 

Therefore, data, comments, new 

information, or suggestions from the 

public, other concerned governmental 

agencies, the scientific community, 

industry, or any other interested party 

concerning this proposed rule are 

hereby solicited. We particularly seek 

comments concerning (1) our proposed 

modifications to the 2005 experimental 

population rule to allow private citizens 

to take wolves in the act of attacking 

their stock animals or dogs; and (2) our 

establishing a reasonable process for 

States and Tribes with approved postdelisting wolf management plans to 

allow removal of wolves that are 

scientifically demonstrated to be 

impacting ungulate populations to the 

degree that they are not meeting 

respective State and Tribal management 

goals. We specifically ask for comments 

regarding whether the proposed 

modifications would reasonably address 

conflicts between wolves and domestic 

animals or wild ungulate populations; 

would provide sufficient safeguards to 

prevent misuse of the modified rule; 

would provide an appropriate and 

transparent public process that ensures 

decisions are science-based; and would 

provide adequate guarantees that wolf 

recovery will not be compromised. 

If you wish to comment, you may 

submit your comments and materials 

concerning this proposed rule by any 

one of several methods, as listed above 

in the ADDRESSES section. If you submit 

comments by e-mail, please submit 

them in ASCII file format and avoid the 

use of special characters and 

encryption. Please note that the e-mail 

address will be closed at the termination 

of the public comment period. 

Our practice is to make comments, 

including names and home addresses of 

respondents, available for public review 

during regular business hours. Before 

including your address, phone number, 

e-mail address, or other personal 

identifying information in your 

comment, you should be aware that 

your entire comment—including your 

personal identifying information—may 

be made publicly available at any time. 

While you can ask us in your comment 

to withhold your personal identifying 

information from public review, we 

cannot guarantee that we will be able to 

do so. Comments and materials received 

will be available for public inspection, 

by appointment, during normal business 

hours (see ADDRESSES section). 

Peer Review 

In accordance with our joint policy 

published in the Federal Register on 

July 1, 1994 (59 FR 34270), and the 

Office of Management and Budget’s 

(OMB) Final Information Quality 

Bulletin for Peer Review, dated 

December 16, 2004, we will seek 

independent review of the science in 

this rule. The purpose of such review is 

to ensure that our final rule is based on 

scientifically sound data, assumptions, 

and analyses. We will send peer 

reviewers copies of this proposed rule 

immediately following publication in 

the Federal Register. We will invite 

these peer reviewers to comment, 


rmajette on PROD1PC64 with PROPOSALS