[ODFW-News] No public testimony to be heard on wolves in Feb.

[ODFW News]

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife =09
Contact: 	Ann Snyder (503) 872-5264 x5363=09
Internet: www.dfw.state.or.us  Fax: (503) 872-5700
=09
For Immediate Release	Wednesday, January 22, 2003

No Public Testimony to be Heard on Wolf Management
at February Commission Meeting

PORTLAND - With no formal action slated on wolf management, the Oregon =
Fish and Wildlife Commission announced today that no public testimony will =
be heard on the subject at its next meeting scheduled for Friday, Feb. 7.

 "At this point it would be premature to take public testimony," said =
Commission Chair John Esler. "We've asked the staff to recap the results =
of the recent town hall meetings and to provide an update on legal issues. =
We're still gathering information. Public testimony will be invited when =
we begin considering action."

The Commission will continue to take written comment on wolves in Oregon =
until further notice.=20

The staff report to be presented Feb. 7 will summarize some of the major =
themes communicated in the oral and written public comments received at =
the November, December and January town hall meetings, and will provide a =
legal review of current laws related to wolf management.=20

The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission is the rule-making body for the =
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. The seven-member panel meets =
monthly to adopt administrative rules and fish and wildlife policies for =
implementation by ODFW.=20

More than 2,000 people attended the 15 town hall meetings held throughout =
Oregon. During those meetings, attendees provided more than 1,600 =
statements and asked 400 questions. A preliminary review has found most of =
the statements and questions fall into 12 to 15 broad themes. In addition, =
nearly 1,400 written statements have been received.=20

Statements taken during each of the public meetings are now posted to the =
ODFW Web site at: http://www.dfw.state.or.us/ODFWhtml/InfoCntrWild/gray_wol=
f/wolf_publicmeet.htm .
Additional information may be found at: http://www.dfw.state.or.us/ODFWhtml=
/InfoCntrWild/gray_wolf/wolf_main.htm .

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