Rocky Mountain Farmers Union disappointed in Polis veto of wolf bill
From The Fence Post:
“We are disappointed that Gov. Jared Polis has vetoed SB23-256 — Management of Gray Wolves Reintroduction. This bipartisan bill was crafted to ensure that the state’s investment of $1 million to expedite the 10(j) determination doesn’t go to waste,” said Chad Franke, president of Rocky Mountain Farmers Union. “While we are disappointed in the governor for vetoing this bill, we would still like to share our deepest gratitude to the legislators from the Western Slope, particularly Reps. Meghan Lukens, Reps. Matt Soper, Senator Dylan Roberts, and Sen. Perry Will, that fought so hard to get this bill within inches of the finish line,” Franke continued.
This bill would not have halted the reintroduction of wolves in Colorado. It simply would have required that the 10(j) ruling by U.S. Fish and Wildlife be in place prior to the reintroduction. The state has demonstrated the importance of the 10(j) rule in testimony and by allocating $1 million last year to fast track the environmental impact study that’s required for the 10(j) ruling. If they move forward with the reintroduction prior to the 10(j) rule, they will have wasted the funds appropriated to fast track the analysis and the countless hours spent on the Wolf Management Plan. Without this rule, the management of wolves in Colorado falls on U.S. Fish and Wildlife due to their current endangered status under the Endangered Species Act. “If wolves are reintroduced prior to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife determination, the Colorado Department of Parks and Wildlife will lose the tools it needs to manage the population of reintroduced wolves and the damage they will bring with them,” Franke continued.
