One of the biggest issues in Montana – in the West, actually – is back in court today. The Missoulian’s Rob Chaney previews the hearing:
A proposal to settle years of litigation and allow public hunting of wolves in parts of the Northern Rockies faces its first legal test on Thursday, as it goes before a federal judge who has twice rebuffed attempts to lift protections for the predators.
The hearing before U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy in Missoula follows a settlement agreement last week between the Obama administration and 10 conservation groups.
But if the agreement is to continue, Molloy has to suspend one of his own rulings. It also must clear the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Chaney will cover the hearing, and we’ll update with results.
Gwen Florio
(Image: AP/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)
What a waste of Federal tax money…… hr509 and s249 and be done with it. Tester does not support hr509 and s249, he wants more of the bull! This same thing will be playing out in WI MI and MN next month when the Fed are threatening to delist & the DOW are threatening to sue! They will never be happy & want another 10,000 wolves chewing up tax dollars….. Wisconsin 700 wolves depredated at a rate of $285 for confirmed depredation in 2010. Enough is enough!