Deadline to Comment on Proposed Wolf Stamp is July 25th
By angelamontana

Posted: July 7, 2014

PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO READ THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION ON THE PROPOSED WOLF STAMP, AND PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO COMMENT.  

The proposed wolf stamp would allow the individuals, including non-hunters and even anti-hunters, who purchase the wolf stamp to contribute to wildlife management in Montana instead of just hunters and anglers having a say.  Keep in mind, the people who would be given the opportunity to buy these proposed wolf stamps can live anywhere in the United States.

Here is the public notice posted by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks:

TO: All Concerned Persons

1. On September 4, 2014, the Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks
(department) proposes to adopt the above-stated rule.

2. The department will make reasonable accommodations for persons with
disabilities who wish to participate in this rulemaking process or need an alternative
accessible format of this notice. If you require an accommodation, contact the
department no later than 5:00 p.m. on July 11, 2014, to advise us of the nature of
the accommodation that you need. Please contact Jessica Snyder, Department of
Fish, Wildlife and Parks, P.O. Box 200701, Helena, Montana, 59620-0701;
telephone (406) 444-9785; fax (406) 444-7456; or e-mail jesssnyder@mt.gov.

3. The rule as proposed to be adopted provides as follows:

NEW RULE I WOLF MANAGEMENT STAMPS (1) The department shall
create wolf management stamps to be issued to any persons who wish to donate to
the department’s management of wolves. Any resident or nonresident may
purchase one or more such stamps for a donation of $20.00 each.
(2) Money received from the sale of wolf management stamps will be
considered a donation and must first be used to pay for the cost of administering the
stamp program. The remainder of the money received must be equally divided and
allocated for the following purposes:
(a) grants awarded through the livestock loss reduction program, pursuant to
2-15-3111, MCA;
(b) wolf monitoring, habitat protection or acquisition within occupied wolf
habitat, scientific research of wolves, or public education and outreach activities
relating to wolves; and
(c) the hiring of additional wardens, as defined by 87-1-101(5), MCA, within
occupied wolf habitat.

AUTH: 87-1-201, MCA
IMP: 87-1-201, MCA

REASON: Constituents expressed a desire to the Fish and Wildlife Commission
(commission) for a mechanism to donate to the department’s management of
wolves. The commission, as a result, directed the department to create a wolf
management stamp for this purpose. The wolf management stamp will providean additional funding source for wolf management in Montana. The voluntary donations provide nonconsumptive users the opportunity to contribute to wildlife management
instead of just hunters and anglers.

4. Concerned persons may submit their data, views, or arguments
concerning the proposed action in writing to: Wolf Stamp Comments, Department of
Fish, Wildlife and Parks, Communication and Education Division, P.O. Box 200701,
Helena, Montana, 59620-0701; fax (406) 444-4952; or e-mail fwpwld@mt.gov, and
must be received no later than July 25, 2014.

5. If persons who are directly affected by the proposed action wish to express
their data, views, or arguments orally or in writing at a public hearing, they must
make written request for a hearing and submit this request along with any written
comments to the above address no later than July 25, 2014.

6. If the agency receives requests for a public hearing on the proposed action
from either 10 percent or 25, whichever is less, of the persons directly affected by
the proposed action; from the appropriate administrative rule review committee of
the Legislature; from a governmental subdivision or agency; or from an association
having not less than 25 members who will be directly affected, a hearing will be held
at a later date. Notice of the hearing will be published in the Montana Administrative
Register. Ten percent of those directly affected has been determined to be more
than 25 persons based on the number of people interested in wolf management in
Montana.

7. The department maintains a list of interested persons who wish to receive
notice of rulemaking actions proposed by the department or commission. Persons
who wish to have their name added to the list shall make written request that
includes the name and mailing address of the person to receive the notice and
specifies the subject or subjects about which the person wishes to receive notice.
Such written request may be mailed or delivered to Fish, Wildlife and Parks, Legal
Unit, P.O. Box 200701, 1420 East Sixth Avenue, Helena, MT 59620-0701, faxed to
the office at (406) 444-7456, or may be made by completing the request form at any
rules hearing held by the department.

8. An electronic copy of this proposal notice is available through the
Secretary of State’s web site at http://sos.mt.gov/ARM/Register. The Secretary of
State strives to make the electronic copy of this notice conform to the official version
of the notice, as printed in the Montana Administrative Register, but advises all
concerned persons that in the event of a discrepancy between the official printed
text of the notice and the electronic version of the notice, only the official printed text
will be considered. In addition, although the Secretary of State works to keep its web
site accessible at all times, concerned persons should be aware that the web site
may be unavailable during some periods, due to system maintenance or technical
problems.

9. The bill sponsor contact requirements of 2-4-302, MCA, do not apply.

10. With regard to the requirements of 2-4-111, MCA, the department has
determined that the adoption of the above-referenced rule will not significantly and
directly impact small businesses.

/s/ Rebecca Dockter /s/ M. Jeff Hagener
Rebecca Dockter M. Jeff Hagener
Rule Reviewer Director
Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks

Certified to the Secretary of State June 16, 2014.

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(Feature photo via lobowatch.wordpress.com)

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