Service Reopens Review Period on Wolf Suggestion

Contacts:

Gavin Shire, 703-346-9123, [email protected]

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Independent scientific peer review report accessible for public review

Following receipt of an independent scientific peer review, the U.S.F.W.S. is reopening the review period on its suggestion to list the Mexican wolf as an endangered subspecies and remove the gray wolf from the Endangered Species List. The Service is making that report accessible for public review, and beginning Monday, February 10, interested stakeholders will have an additional 45 days to provide information that may be helpful to the Service in making a final determination on the proposal.

The independent scientific peer review was hosted and managed by the National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis (NCEAS), a highly respected interdisciplinary research center at the University of California - Santa Barbara. At the Service's request, NCEAS sponsored and conducted a peer review of the science underlying the Service's proposal.

"Peer review is an important step in our efforts to assure that the final decision on our suggestion to delist the wolf is based on the best accessible scientific and technical information," said Service Director Dan Ashe. "We thank the National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis for conducting a transparent, objective and well-documented process. We are incorporating the peer review report into the public record for the suggested rulemaking, and accordingly, reopening the public review period to provide the public with the opportunity for input."

The peer review report is accessible online, along with instructions on how to provide review and comprehensive links relating to the proposal, at www.fws.gov/home/wolfrecovery.

The Service intends that any final action resulting from this suggested rule will be based on the best accessible information. Comments and materials we receive, as well as some of the supporting documentation used in preparing this suggested rule, are accessible for public inspection at www.regulations.gov under the docket number FWS-HQ-ES-2013-0073.

The Service will post all comments on www.regulations.gov. This generally means the agency will post any personal information provided through the process. The Service is not able to accept email or faxes. Comments must be received by midnight on March 27.

The Federal Register publication of this notice will be accessible online Feb. ten at www.fws.gov/policy/frsystem/default.cfm by clicking on the 2014 Suggested Rules under Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants.

The Service expects to make final determination on the suggestion by the end of 2014.

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