Title: An act relating to grey wolf management.

Brief Description: Requiring the department of fish and wildlife to draft a grey wolf management plan.

Sponsors: Senator Morton.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Natural Resources, Ocean & Recreation: 1/30/06, 2/2/06 [DPS-WM].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES, OCEAN & RECREATION

Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6778 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means.Signed by Senators Jacobsen, Chair; Doumit, Vice Chair; Oke, Ranking Minority Member; Fraser, Morton, Spanel and Stevens.

Staff: Vic Moon (786-7469)

Background: Under the authority of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, the grey wolf has been reintroduced into several western states including Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana. While there is no wolf pack known in Washington, individual wolves have been seen and larger packs may be part of the wildlife makeup of the state. The Department of Fish and Wildlife will be submitting a report to the federal government in 2006, and the Department will then develop a Washington grey wolf management plan.

Summary of Substitute Bill: The Department of Fish and Wildlife must draft a grey wolf management plan and submit the plan to the Legislature by December 31, 2006. The Department must hold hearings in each of the Department's management regions.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill: The wolf plan will be due in 2007 and there is an appropriation of $100,000 from the general fund to fund the preparation of the plan.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested. A $100,000 appropriation from the General Fund is included in the substitute bill

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For: The Department of Fish and Wildlife is ready to send the grey wolf report to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. The state plan could be developed by 2007 since much of the scientific and technical work has been done by other states where the grey wolf is listed under the Federal Endangered Species Act.

Testimony Against: none

Who Testified: PRO: Steve Pozzanghera, Department of Fish and Wildlife; Ed Owens, Hunters Heritage Council; Bill Pickell, Washington Contract Loggers Association.