[Federal Register: November 5, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 214)] [Notices] [Page 60453-60454] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr05no99-87] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service Availability of the Reassessment of the Interim Wolf Control Plan for the Northern Rocky Mountains AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice of document availability. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: We, the Fish and Wildlife Service, announce the availability of the Reassessment of the Interim Wolf Control Plan for the Northern Rocky Mountains, which includes northwestern Montana and the Panhandle of northern Idaho (Exclusive of the Experimental Population Area). Our 1988 Interim Wolf Control Plan (Control Plan) was developed in response to a recommendation in the 1987 Northern Rocky Mountain Wolf Recovery Plan (Recovery Plan) to conserve and enhance survival and propagation of the gray wolf, and is implemented under an Endangered Species Act section 10 permit. The Control Plan has been carried out for 11 years to control problem wolves. A notice of availability of the draft reassessment was published in the Federal Register, Volume 63, Number 78, on April 23, 1998, soliciting review and comments from the public for 30 days. Based on the review and the comments received, we have modified the Control Plan to include changes in the following areas--(1) Management zones; (2) encouraging research in deterring wolf depredations on livestock; (3) recordkeeping and analysis; (4) non-lethal control techniques and; (5) monitoring of the wolf population in northwestern Montana. The Control Plan also was amended to include the need to control wolves that kill pets and an increased educational effort about wolf recovery and management in northwestern Montana. ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to obtain a copy of the Reassessment and the Modified Interim Wolf Control Plan may do so by contacting the Wolf Recovery Coordinator, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 100 North Park, Suite 320, Helena, Montana 59604, or by accessing the website. The Control Plan and the Reassessment can be retrieved from the Service's Region 6 website at . The complete administrative record of this action is on file at the above address and is available for inspection, by appointment, during normal business hours. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ed Bangs, Wolf Recovery Coordinator (see ADDRESSES above), or at telephone (406) 449-5225, extension 204, or e-mail . SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background The primary goal of our endangered species program is to restore an endangered or threatened animal or plant to the point where it is again a secure, self-sustaining member of its ecosystem. Recovery Plans describe actions considered necessary for conservation of the species, establish criteria for recovery levels for downlisting or delisting the species, and estimate time and cost for implementing the recovery measures identified. Under 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 we approved the Wolf Recovery Plan for the Northern Rocky Mountains (Recovery Plan) 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 (Control Plan) was approved by the Service's Regional Director on August 5, 1988. The Control Plan included criteria for determining problem wolves, criteria for their disposition, and protocols and techniques for control actions. We conduct control of problem wolves through our section 10 permit authority. Under section 10(a)(1)(A) of the 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 Control Plan has been carried out for 11 years to control problem wolves. On February 27, 1998, a draft evaluation of the Control Plan was completed to see if it was achieving its goal of helping recovery of the Northern Rocky Mountain endangered wolf population. The evaluation looked at--(1) the effectiveness of the program in facilitating wolf recovery, (2) effectiveness of the guidelines for determining problem wolves, conducting wolf control actions and the disposition of problem wolves, (3) the analysis, accuracy, consistency and value of the reporting and recording of actions for the record, and (4) recommendations for the wolf control program. A recommendation in the draft reassessment was to subject the review to a wider and more professional scrutiny by publishing a notice of availability in the Federal Register, and sending it to experts experienced in managing wolf/livestock conflicts. A notice of availability was published in the Federal Register, Volume 63, Number 78, on April 23, 1998, soliciting review and comments from the public for 30 days. Copies of the notice were sent to congressional delegates and the Governors in Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming. Copies were sent to U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services State directors and their Regional Office. All cooperators were made aware of the notice of availability through the gray wolf weekly report mailing list and postings on several Internet websites. We received 25 written and 1 verbal response to the draft reassessment. Comments were reviewed and 22 relevant issues regarding the Control Plan were categorized and addressed. The categories, number of comments, and responses to relevant issues are listed in the final version of the Reassessment. After careful review and analysis of comments received, and the evaluation of the Control Plan, some of the recommendations in the draft reassessment were modified and several additional recommendations have been added to the Modified Interim Control Plan. We have modified the Control Plan for the Northern Rocky Mountains to include changes in the following areas--(1) management zones; (2) encouraging research in deterring wolf depredations on livestock; (3) recordkeeping and analysis; (4) non-lethal control techniques and; (5) monitoring of the wolf population in northwestern Montana. The Control Plan also was amended to include the need to control wolves that kill pets and a recommendation to increase [[Page 60454]] educational efforts about wolf recovery and management in northwestern Montana. Authority The authority for this action is section 4(f) of the Endangered Species Act, 16 U.S.C. 1533(f). Dated: October 28, 1999. Terry Terrell, Deputy Regional Director, Denver, Colorado. [FR Doc. 99-29001 Filed 11-4-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-55-P