News Release

Ed Bangs, 406-449-5225, ext. 204
Joan Jewett, 503-231-6211

Upcoming Public Meetings and Hearings to Discuss
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service?s Proposal to Delist the Gray Wolf
in the Northern Rocky Mountain States

Today in the Federal Register, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service published its proposal to delist the gray wolf in the northern Rocky Mountains. It can be viewed at www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/species/mammals/wolf/ . Comments from the public are encouraged on this proposal. They can be electronically mailed to NRMGrayWolf@fws.gov">, hand-delivered to USFWS, 585 Shepard Way, Helena, MT 59601, or mailed to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Wolf Delisting, 585 Shepard Way, Helena, MT 59601. All comments must be submitted by the close of business on April 9, 2007.

To provide information about the proposal, answer questions, and receive formal testimony for the record, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will hold a series of public meetings and hearings in Wyoming, Montana, Utah, Idaho, Oregon and Washington regarding its proposal to delist the northern Rocky Mountain distinct population segment of gray wolves.

In each location, the public meetings will be from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. and the public hearings will be from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. A brief presentation on the Service?s proposal will be given during the public meetings at 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. and will be followed by a question-and-answer period. During the public hearing, formal oral testimony will be accepted. Written comments also will be accepted at the public meeting and the hearing.

The schedule for the meetings and hearings is:

February 27, 2007, at Holiday Inn Cheyenne,
204 West Fox Farm Road, Cheyenne, WY

February 28, 2007, at Plaza Hotel,
122 West South Temple, Salt Lake City, UT

March 1, 2007, at Jorgenson?s Inn & Suites,
17111the Avenue, Helena, MT

850 W. Front Street, Boise, ID