Washington, DC—U.S. Senator Jim Risch issued the following statement in response to today’s announcement that the Department of Interior has reached a proposed settlement agreement on the wolf issue with various environmental groups.  The plan, which requires approval from U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy, would delist wolves in Idaho and Montana.

  “This is hopefully a positive step toward returning wolf management to the states and I applaud Secretary Salazar’s continued effort to delist wolves.  Having said that, I am concerned this plan relies on too many variables and there’s no indication it will be approved by the courts.  The history of wolf agreements is littered with assurances and promises that have not been kept.  We need the federal government totally removed from the wolf issue.  Idaho has proven it can manage a wolf population and I will continue to fight to allow Idaho to manage wolves without federal interference.”

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