http://mobile.oregonlive.com/advorg/pm_29233/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=MQtNw4bo Lynne Terry, The Oregonian 12/19/2011 2:12 PM
Just days after state officials said they're adopting a framework for wolf compensation claims, conservation groups lashed out, saying they’re worried about how the plan will play out on the ground.
Specifically, they’re concerned about Wallowa County. In a letter to Governor Kitzhaber dated Friday, they accused the county of forming an anti-wolf compensation committee even before the state finalized rules on the program.
The program will compensate ranchers who lose cows to wolves. The Imnaha pack of at least five gray wolves has killed six cows since October when a lawsuit stayed the state’s plans to eliminate wolves that feed on livestock. The pack has killed 20 cows since the spring of 2010, according to the Department of Fish & Wildlife.
Committees set up in each county will review claims and make recommendations on compensation. The conservation groups said the committees are supposed to be balanced, with two wolf advocates, two ranchers and a county commissioner. But they said Wallowa County’s committee was set up without any conservationists.
“Wallowa County does not appear to be honoring the intent of compensation plan,” said Josh Laughlin, campaign director for Cascadia Wildlands. “They’re jumping the gun and stacking the deck.”
Susan Roberts, the Wallowa County commissioner who will serve on the local committee, disagreed.
She said the county started forming the group early to be prepared and not to circumvent any rules.
“We’re doing our best to find people who say they could co-exist with wolves and they support their return,” she said. “ As far as I’m concerned we’re not gong to be forced by outside groups to pick one of their members.”
