Mesa County Commissioners approved a letter to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) requesting Cooperating Agency status for the environmental analysis conducted under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) regarding the reintroduction and management of the Gray Wolf in Colorado.
The letter states:
“The Mesa County Board of County Commissioners (“Mesa County”) hereby asserts its right to serve as a Cooperating Agency as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (“USFWS”) conducts an environmental analysis for the reintroduction and management of the Gray Wolf in Colorado. Of particular interest to Mesa County is the USFWS’s consideration of management efforts under Section 10(j) of the Endangered Species Act (“ESA”).
Authority for Cooperating with Mesa County exists in NEPA, 43 U.S.C §§ 4331(a), 4332(2), and the implementing regulations, 40 C.F.R. § 1501.8(a), 1508.1(e), (n), (ee). See CEQ Memorandum, Cooperating Agencies in Implementing the Procedural Requirements of the NEPA, at 1-2, 4-5 (Jan. 30, 2002). Further, Mesa County has appreciated a cooperative relationship with the USFWS pursuant to a Memorandum of Understanding with the USFWS, dated February 26, 2018.
Mesa County has the authority to adopt and enforce ordinances and resolutions regarding health, safety, and welfare issues (Colo. Rev. Stat. § 30-11-101(2)) and has special expertise regarding the social and economic impacts of wolves within our jurisdiction. Our comments will include timely, detailed, and comprehensive analysis of impacts specific to Mesa County.
Thank you for consideration of this request and a timely invitation to cooperate and coordinate with the USFWS. Should you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact a Mesa County Commissioner at (970) 244-1800.”
Mesa County has been engaged in discussions surrounding the reintroduction efforts of the gray wolf in Colorado. As the US Fish and Wildlife move to determine management under the Endangered Species Act, Mesa County would like to be to provide comments and data specific to potential social and economic impacts in Mesa County.
To view the approval of this letter at the public hearing on June 24, visit https://bit.ly/3xN8bXA (timestamp 23:17).