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H.J.R. 12

             1     

RESOLUTION PROVIDING MANAGEMENT OF

             2     
WOLVES IN UTAH

             3     
2003 GENERAL SESSION

             4     
STATE OF UTAH

             5     
Sponsor: Michael R. Styler

             6      This joint resolution of the Legislature urges the United States Fish and Wildlife Service
             7      to expedite the process for transferring authority to manage wolves to the states. The
             8      resolution also urges the United States Fish and Wildlife Service to reject requests to
             9      establish additional recovery areas that would include the state of Utah; urges the Utah
             10      Division of Wildlife Resources to draft a wolf management plan that is to the extent
             11      possible consistent with the wildlife management objectives of the Ute Indian Tribe,
             12      prevents livestock depredation, and protects the investments made in wildlife
             13      management efforts; and urges the Division of Wildlife Resources to prepare a grant
             14      proposal recommending that the Department of Natural Resources' Endangered Species
             15      Mitigation Fund fully compensate private landowners for losses, not covered by other
             16      mitigation sources, resulting from depredation to livestock by wolves.
             17      Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             18          WHEREAS, wolves have become well established in the Northern Rocky Mountain
             19      states of Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming, and dispersing young wolves from these expanding
             20      populations are traveling into and attempting to recolonize parts of Utah;
             21          WHEREAS, the biological status of wolves in the Northern Rocky Mountain Recovery
             22      Area has recently exceeded criteria for full recovery under the Northern Rocky Mountain Wolf
             23      Recovery Plan;
             24          WHEREAS, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service has stated that the presence of
             25      wolves in Utah is not necessary for the recovery of wolves in the Northern Rocky Mountain
             26      Recovery Area;
             27          WHEREAS, Utah is not a participating state in the Northern Rocky Mountain recovery



             28      effort for Gray Wolves;
             29          WHEREAS, the wolf is currently protected in Utah by state statute as well as by the
             30      Federal Endangered Species Act;
             31          WHEREAS, the state of Utah has a legislated, public process for the purpose of
             32      developing policy for the management of protected wildlife, which includes the Regional
             33      Advisory Councils and the Utah Wildlife Board;
             34          WHEREAS, the Utah Wildlife Board has been recognized by the Western Association
             35      of Fish and Wildlife Agencies for its ability to resolve complex, controversial wildlife
             36      management issues;
             37          WHEREAS, the Utah Wildlife Board has approved a Policy on Managing Predatory
             38      Wildlife Species that provides direction to the Division of Wildlife Resources in managing
             39      predator populations;
             40          WHEREAS, recent biological assessments recognize that lands within the original
             41      boundaries of the Uintah and Ouray Reservation in the Uinta Basin of Utah contain suitable
             42      wolf habitat;
             43          WHEREAS, the state of Utah and the Ute Indian Tribe are party to a Cooperative
             44      Management Agreement which recognizes the need for cooperation in the management of
             45      wildlife within the original boundaries of the Reservation;
             46          WHEREAS, citizens and conservation organizations in Utah have invested significant
             47      resources to restore populations of wildlife in Utah; and
             48          WHEREAS, hunting, ranching, and livestock production contribute significantly to the
             49      economy, heritage, and quality of life in Utah:
             50          NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah
             51      urges the United States Fish and Wildlife Service to expedite the delisting process for wolves
             52      in the Western Gray Wolf Distinct Population Segment, thereby transferring authority to
             53      manage wolves to the states.
             54          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature urges the United States Fish and
             55      Wildlife Service to reject requests to establish additional recovery areas that would include the
             56      state of Utah, leaving the entire state in the Western Gray Wolf Distinct Population Segment.
             57          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature strongly urges the Utah Division of
             58      Wildlife Resources to draft a wolf management plan for review, modification, and adoption by


             59      the Utah Wildlife Board through the Regional Advisory Council process.
             60          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature urges that the objectives and
             61      strategies of the plan, to the extent possible, be consistent with the wildlife management
             62      objectives of the Ute Indian Tribe, prevent livestock depredation, and protect the investments
             63      made in wildlife management efforts while being consistent with United States Fish and
             64      Wildlife Service regulations.
             65          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature strongly urges the Division of
             66      Wildlife Resources to prepare a grant proposal for consideration by the Department of Natural
             67      Resources' Endangered Species Mitigation Fund to fully compensate private landowners for
             68      losses not covered by other mitigation sources and resulting from depredation to livestock by
             69      wolves.
             70          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be sent to the United
             71      States Fish and Wildlife Service Region Six, the United States Secretary of the Interior, the
             72      Utah Wildlife Board, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, and the members of Utah's
             73      congressional delegation.




Legislative Review Note
    as of 1-20-03 3:20 PM


A limited legal review of this legislation raises no obvious constitutional or statutory concerns.

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel


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