Executive Order 02-03

State of Montana
Office of the Governor

EXECUTIVE ORDER RECONVENING THE GOVERNOR'S WOLF MANAGEMENT ADVISORY COUNCIL

WHEREAS, wolves have naturally recolonized northwest Montana from Canada and have expanded into the state from populations reintroduced to Idaho and Wyoming; and

WHEREAS, the Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks is the State Agency charged under the State Statute with the management of resident wildlife for the benefit of current and future generations of people; and

WHEREAS, the people of Montana have a significant stake in the future management of wolves in the state and will benefit or suffer more directly than other citizens of the United States in response to wolf recovery and management and, accordingly, should be provided with an opportunity to advise the Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks on how wolves are managed after wolves are removed from the list of threatened and endangered species; and

WHEREAS, Governor Marc Racicot appointed a 12 member citizen Wolf Management Advisory Council in 2001 to advise the Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks on management of wolves following the removal of wolves from the federal list of threatened and endangered species; and

WHEREAS, the Council developed balanced recommendations that formed the basis of the state's draft wolf management planning document; and

WHEREAS, the Montana Environmental Policy Act requires the department to complete an environmental review before adopting a wolf management plan; and

WHEREAS, the council can continue to provide valuable advice to the department throughout the environmental review process leading up to a final decision on a state wolf management plan; and

WHEREAS, the term of the original Executive Order creating the Governor's Montana Wolf Management Advisory Council expired in April, 2002,

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JUDY MARTZ, Governor of the State of Montana, by virtue of the authority vested in me under the laws and Constitution of the State of Montana, do hereby reconvene the Governor's Montana State Wolf Management Advisory Council.

I.  PURPOSE

The Montana State Wolf Management Advisory Council shall:

advise the Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks regarding wolf management in Montana after this species is removed from the list of federally protected species.  Specifically, the Council shall advise the agency on issues including, but not limited to:

the means to ensure the wolf population in Montana remains above the level that would require reclassification as threatened or endangered under federal law;

the impacts of wolves on livestock and agricultural operations and ways to mitigate these impacts;

the impacts of wolves on natural prey populations and big game hunting and ways to mitigate those impacts;

the impacts of wolves on other aspects of the economy and lifestyles of Montana's citizens and ways to address those impacts;

appropriate roles for state and federal agencies, tribes and private groups in wolf management;

appropriate funding sources including state, federal and private funds to be used in the management of wolves; and

legislative or fiscal proposals that should be proposed to the Montana Legislature in future legislative sessions

In its deliberations, the Council shall consider input from the citizens of the state and other interested parties, as well as the wolf management plans of the states of Idaho and Wyoming.

II.   COMPOSITION

The Council shall consist of those members of the original Montana Wolf Management Advisory Council who are willing and able to be reappointed.  New members will be appointed by the Governor to replace vacant seats left by the original 12 members.  Members will represent a variety of interests, including, but not limited to agriculture, hunting and wildlife conservation.  The names and addresses of members, who shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor, are submitted by separate letter to the Secretary of State and the Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks.

III.  COMPENSATION

Council members shall be reimbursed by the Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks for reasonable travel expenses pursuant to sections 2-15-122(5) and 2-18-501 through 2-15-503, MCA.

IV.  DURATION

The Council shall exist for a period of one year from the effective date of this Order, unless extended by subsequent Executive Order.  This Order shall be effective immediately.