Barrasso Issues Marching Orders
Senator John Barrasso confronted US Fish and Wildlife Service Director Nominee Dan Ashe about the ongoing protection of gray wolves in the Greater Yellowstone Area. During a confirmation hearing by the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works to consider that nomination Tuesday, Barrasso told Ashe that the relationship between the western states and the agency are very poor. Moreover, Barrasso told Ashe that despite the wolf being declared a recovered species, the protections remain in place and it would be up to Ashe to see that they are de-listed. If confirmed, Ashe will also be under pressure from environmental groups to address a growing list of endangered species proposals and acquire lands to protect critical migration corridors.
