Federal judge to hear state case for shooting wolves next week

June 04, 2010

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Larry Bell says it believes that following the National Environmental Policy Act is the best way to restore Unimak Island caribou populations. (Dan Carpenter/KTUU-DT)

by Jason Lamb
Thursday, June 3, 2010

ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- A federal judge is planning to hear arguments in the legal battle over predator control on Unimak Island next week in a dispute between the federal and state wildlife agencies.

It will take the judge at least until Monday to rule on whether he'll allow the state Department of Fish and Game to kill wolves in an effort to boost the caribou population on Unimak Island. It's the biggest island of the Aleutian chain -- and also part of a national wildlife refuge.

The federal government says it wants to take time to review the state's plans under the National Environmental Policy Act, or NEPA. But the state has argued in court documents that it can't wait for federal authorities to finish their investigation if it wants predator control to be effective.

Last week the state sued the federal government, asking for the right to kill the wolves. A judge decided Thursday to schedule a hearing over the controversy for next Monday.

At the hearing, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service officials argued that following federal regulations like NEPA is the best way to bring back the caribou population.

"We believe that following NEPA and informing our decision through that process will restore that herd in the most expeditious way, and in a manner that will be a lasting effect," said Fish and Wildlife's Larry Bell.

But the state argues the federal government is overlooking three different laws that govern how it's supposed to act in situations like these -- as well as a decades-old memorandum of understanding between the federal and state governments.

"In other words, we've had a long relationship on these issues and we're contending that suddenly on this particular issue right now, they're not following any of the procedures and precedents of the past," said the Department of Law spokesperson Bill McAllister.

On Monday, the federal judge is scheduled to take up the possibility of a preliminary injunction that would prevent the federal government from interfering with the state's predator control plans.

Contact Jason Lamb at jlamb@ktuu.com

|

|

|