[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 78 (Thursday, April 23, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 20212]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-10297]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Availability of Draft Reassessment of the Interim Wolf Control 
Plan for the Northern Rocky Mountains for Review and Comment

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of document availability.

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SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announces the 
availability for public review of a draft reassessment of the 1988 
Interim Wolf Control Plan for the Northern Rocky Mountains. The Service 
solicits review and comment from the public on this draft information.

DATES: Comments on the draft reassessment must be received on or before 
May 26, 1998 to ensure they receive consideration by the Service.

ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to review the draft reassessment may obtain 
a copy by contacting the Wolf Recovery Coordinator, U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, 100 North Park, Suite 320, Helena, Montana 59604. 
Written comments and materials regarding this information should be 
sent to the Recovery Coordinator at the address given above. Comments 
and materials received are available on request for public inspection, 
by appointment, during normal business hours at the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Ed Bangs, Wolf Recovery Coordinator (see ADDRESSES above), at telephone 
(406) 449-5225, extension 204.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Restoring an endangered or threatened animal or plant to the point 
where it is again a secure, self-sustaining member of its ecosystem is 
a primary goal of the Fish and Wildlife Service's (Service) endangered 
species program. Recovery plans describe actions considered necessary 
for conservation of the species, establish criteria for recovery levels 
for downlisting or delisting them, and estimate time and cost for 
implementing the recovery measures needed.
    Under the provisions of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (Act) as 
amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), the Northern Rocky Mountains wolf 
population was listed as endangered, and the Service approved the Wolf 
Recovery Plan for the Northern Rocky Mountains in 1987. The Recovery 
Plan recognized that, where ranges of wolves and livestock overlap, 
some livestock would be killed by wolves. In order to address this 
issue the Recovery Plan identified the need ``to delineate recovery 
areas and identify and develop conservation strategies and management 
plan(s) to ensure perpetuation of the Northern Rocky Mountain wolf.'' 
To respond to this need a task was included to develop and implement a 
wolf control/contingency plan for dealing with wolf depredations. An 
interim wolf control plan for Montana and Wyoming was approved by the 
Service's Regional Director on August 5, 1988. The plan includes 
criteria for determining problem wolves, criteria for their 
disposition, and protocols and techniques for control actions.
    The Service conducts control of problem wolves through its section 
10 permit authority. Under section 10(a)(1)(A) of the Endangered 
Species Act. ``The Secretary (of the Interior) may permit, under such 
terms and conditions as he may prescribe--, (A) any act otherwise 
prohibited by section 9 for scientific purposes or to enhance the 
propagation or survival of the affected species.'' The Service conducts 
control of problem wolves under the terms and conditions of the section 
10 permit which is consistent with the guidance of the Interim Wolf 
Control. Since issuance of the permit in 1988, the wolf population in 
Northwest Montana has been reproducing and growing toward recovery 
levels.
    The Interim Wolf Control Plan has been in place for 10 years. It is 
time for an assessment of the plan's operation to see if it is 
achieving its goal of facilitating recovery of the Northern Rocky 
Mountain endangered wolf population. The assessment also will identify 
recommendations for improvements or other actions to increase the 
plan's effectiveness.

Public Comments Solicited

    The Service solicits written comments on the draft reassessment of 
the interim wolf control plan described above. All comments received by 
the date specified in the DATES section above will be considered prior 
to finalization of the information. Appropriate portions of the 
information will be appended to, and become part of, the reassessment.

Authority

    The authority for this action is section 4(f) of the Endangered 
Species Act, 16 U.S.C. 1533(f).

    Dated: April 13, 1998.
Terry T. Terrell,
Deputy Regional Director, Denver, Colorado.
[FR Doc. 98-10297 Filed 4-22-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-M