Thursday, August 5, 2010
Molloy overturns gray wolf delisting
Posted by Alex Sakariassen on Thu, Aug 5, 2010 at 4:40 PM
U.S. District Court Judge Donald Molloy today overturned the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's decision to remove gray wolves in the Northern Rockies from the Endangered Species List, siding with the Defenders of Wildlife in a contentious lawsuit aimed at restoring federal protections for the wolf population. The previous decision to delist gray wolves in the Rocky Mountains was made by Interior Secretary Ken Salazar in spring 2009. Molloy overturned the decision, stating it was a political solution that failed to comply with federal law.
The Defenders of Wildlife issued a statement late this afternoon hailing Molloy's ruling a "significant victory for wolves, for the integrity of the Endangered Species Act, and for all Americans who care deeply about conservation." President Roger Schlickeisen elaborated, saying, "Had the federal government prevailed in the lawsuit, real wolf recovery would have been set back for perhaps decades. Worse, the precedent of the federal government making listing and delisting decisions for endangered species based upon political boundaries rather than science would have crippled the Interior Department’s future management of the Endangered Species Act to the detriment of many species."
Some conservationists will no doubt be dancing in the street over the court's decision. We'll have more from state agencies and others as comments come in.
Comments (7)
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This is a sick abuse of the "justice system." Molloy does not follow the laws, but instead adheres to his activist principles. It is long past time to contact our Congressional respresentation and DEMAND an impeachment hearing and have Molloy removed from his seat!
Molloy would have us believe, he is above the whims of politics and makes decisions based on the law, when in fact "it's all about the dollars."
wow i live in montana not far from the 9 mile wolf pack the goverment actuall did right wolvs need shot sadly breeding way to fast killing off the deer and elk im sry i love wolfs to but they got to be killed or thier will be no wolfs left or deer elk to boot nature been screwed with way to mutch to self regulate the wolf population let them roam worked in the 1800's wont work in 2010 not enuff food for them or enuff space hunting season needs left in place fish wildlife and parks needs to set the season and the quota number so the wolfs can be managed so they will be around in future if left to thier own devices will be extectint in montana inside 20 years
time to move to san fransisco where it at least follows a law that is real. now it's time to put deer & elk on the endangered list toooooooo
To WhatHappenedToThisCountry,
The habit of referring to any judge with whom one does not agree as "activist" has grown distressingly common. Molloy's ruling does indeed have a sound legal basis. He ruled that the EPA cannot de-list only part of a population, that its subdivision of the Montana and Idaha population was based impermissibily on political and not biological reasoning.
If you want wolves de-listed again, the proper target of your animus is Wyoming. If they had developed a suitable management plan as they were directed to do, this ruling would not be necessary.
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