Were thinking about access across the board and how to we allow people to feel that they belong in the outdoors on our public lands and on our wildlife refuges. But how do we get over that worry? Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service. She has also served as deputy solicitor of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. Under pressure from environmental organizations to appoint a confirmed leader at FWS, President Joe Biden nominated Williams the following month. This is not the first time Williams has served in the DOI. If confirmed, I will adhere to the law, the Endangered Species Act and the underlying science, she said, adding that she has met with state wildlife officials in Wyoming, Idaho and Montana on how to achieve delisting criteria. DOI and the bureaus do not guarantee that outside websites comply with Section 508 (Accessibility Requirements) of the Rehabilitation Act. The Federal Indian Child Welfare Act is at risk. The infrastructure will support many of these America the Beautiful projects, funding things like fish passage structures and habitat restoration projects that help create jobs and help build communities. FWP game wardens looked into the report and found no functional telemetry equipment or evidence of violation, Morgan E. Jacobsen, a spokesperson for FWPs southwest region, said in an email in July. Missoulian Tracy Stone-Manning took the helm of the Bureau of Land Management last September after a lengthy and contentious confirmation process. I think its just so convoluted now that it would take an overhaul to crack that, and I think a lot of folks of whatever view on wolves are probably a bit concerned about opening the can of worms, she said. Prior to joining Montana Free Press staff in 2021 Amanda was a freelance writer, researcher and interviewer. Thats very concerning, and I think it should concern the Fish and Wildlife Service in terms of whether or not Montana is living up to the commitment it made with respect to that delisting rule.. How Williams navigated the requirement is unclear. Whoops! The problem is that they dont know if the hunters are sightingresident packs or nonresident packs, said MacNulty, the Utah State University researcher. Williams, who was teaching natural resources and wildlife law at the University of Montana before joining FWP, is the 24th director of the agency in its 116-year history. Both Daines and the center supported Williamss nomination, and both have vastly divergent expectations of the director now that shes in power. Martha has been serving as Principal Deputy Director of the Fish and Wildlife Service since January 20, 2021, exercising the delegable authority of the Director. Fish and Wildlife director. Fish and Wildlife Service in the Biden Administration. The second is the unique category that wolves occupy under Montana law: Originally designed as a protection during Williamss years as an FWP attorney, the special category paradoxically made wolves more vulnerable to controversial hunting techniques following her tenure as FWP director. In a guest editorial appearing in the Billings Gazette a year ago, she wrote that FWP recognizes that bison restoration has a place in Montana, whether on tribal land, public land, or private lands of willing landowners. She advocated for a bison restoration proposal that would allow for collaboration and transparency and take into account the concerns of landowners and communities small and large.. What Montana has done is they basically turned that regulatory mechanism on its head, and they are now using it effectively as a threat to wolves, not as a protection, Dan MacNulty, associate professor of wildlandresources at Utah State University, told me. She was confirmed in a bipartisan 16-to-4 vote in February. {{start_at_rate}} {{format_dollars}} {{start_price}} {{format_cents}} {{term}}, {{promotional_format_dollars}}{{promotional_price}}{{promotional_format_cents}} {{term}}, the former director of Montanas state wildlife agency, She appeared Wednesday before the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, Protests and arrests at Helena Capitol in support of Zooey Zephyr, Helena man dies in motorcycle crash in residential neighborhood, Townsend man dies a day after eating Dave's Sushi; cause of death not yet confirmed, 7 arrested at Capitol in protest as trans legislator again blocked on House floor, Downtown Helena's Alive at Five concert lineup set for 2023 season, Zephyr committees scuttled day after her ban from the House floor, Gianfortes son one of many lobbying governor against trans bills, Trans lawmaker Zooey Zephyr banned from House chamber after supporting protesters, UPDATE: House GOP leadership plans vote on 'disciplinary consequences' against Zephyr, 'Blood on your hands': Montana lawmaker's words not unusual, Helena commission considering citywide fee increases for services, 'Two more go up in its place': Posters supporting marginalized groups torn down at Carroll, saw Republicans calling for her nomination to be withdrawn, Montana trust land revenue tops $107 million, Drought effects linger as Montana heads into colder months, Montana ballot initiative at center of controversial FEC decision, New approach aims to offer holistic picture of Montana's snowpack, Montana's AG files suit over Biden immigration policy, Montana hunters prep for first traditional muzzleloader season, New Mexico woman enters plea deal over threat to trappers' association, Williams confirmed to lead US Fish and Wildlife Service, Biden addresses journalists detained abroad at Correspondents' Dinner, Sudan's rival forces vie for control, risking prolonged conflict, 5 killed in Texas shooting, sheriff expands search for suspect, Video: Rally in support of Missoula Rep. Zooey Zephyr. Its wonderful and well put it to use really quickly, but when you own and manage these places for the public and the public trust, its an ongoing responsibility and commitment. Ms. Martha Williams, Montana Department of Wildlife, Fish and Parks, Director Senator Mike Lang, Senate District 17 . Democrats said it will weaken Montanans right to participate in government decisions. MW: Im excited to have resources that we havent had in a long time, and not just dollars. Who would hold party elites accountable to the values they proclaim to have? Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way. Fish and Wildlife Service. Support homegrown news. Learn more about climate change , and wildlife, Williams co-directed the universitys Land Use and Natural Resources Clinic and co-supervised the Public Land and Resources Law Review and the Environmental Law Group. As time went on, things got complicated. By, as second-in-command at the U.S. The original idea of a species in need of management had been twisted beyond recognition. By signing up, I agree to receive emails from The Intercept and to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. The first has to do with how wolf populations in the region are estimated. Photo: Michael Brochstein/Sipa via AP Images. Whoops! Montana's independent nonprofit news source. Representative Rhonda Knudsen, House District 34 . In the portion ofMontanathat abuts Yellowstone Park, the death toll of 19 wolves marked a342 percent increasefrom the previous decades annual average of four. USFWS also administers the Endangered Species Act and manages and distributes more than $1 billion to states, tribes and territories for fish and wildlife conservation. She has been serving as principal deputy director for USFWS since January of 2020. Following the 2009 delisting, FWP issued regulations each year explaining to hunters and trappers what they could and could not do in pursuit of wolves. No shouting. Just award-winning local journalism for the people, by the people. And then how can we support these efforts? Lawmakers suspended their rules to allow for House Bill 971s introduction and passed the measure along party lines. Fielder failed to note that the figures cited in the states management plan reflect a minimum threshold for the states wolf population. MW: At USFWS, we always have to be grounded in the science, so the numbers are important. Time will tell if Williams, another veteran of the Wests wolf wars, agrees. Senate revives, and advances, charter school bills, Gianforte signs gender-affirming care ban for transgender minors, Senate majority leader falls short in anti-pork crusade, appointed to become the federal agencys principal deputy director, nominating her to take the agencys top post, took the helm of the Bureau of Land Management, Abortion clinics sue state over new restrictions on Medicaid coverage, Bill banning greenhouse gas analysis from permitting decisions heads to governor, Proudly powered by Newspack by Automattic. MW: Our charge is implementing the Endangered Species Act, so were always going to pay close attention, and the fact that we are in litigation, that we have a 12-month finding that were currently working on, means that were even more involved in thinking through management alternatives. of would-be replacements plays out. Republican lawmakers supported the bill, saying it will help unwind a recent court decision over a gas plant under construction. Before taking the deputy directors position with the Biden administration, Williams served as director of Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks under former Democratic Gov. Every little piece and investment allows people to build support for the refuges and to see that we care about investing in them, too, people and communities. Sign up for theCapitolizednewsletter and stay up-to-date on the latest legislative developments during the session. Outdoor Life: Lets lead with grizzly bears, which are still under federal endangered-species protection though population benchmarks for recovery have been met. Scott Creel, a large carnivore population ecologist with Montana State University, has also found problems in the states model, describing considerable doubt about the accuracy of population estimates from the iPOM in a critique published last year. Republican lawmakers supported the bill, saying it will help unwind a recent court decision over a gas plant under construction. USFWS Director Martha Williams spoke about federal efforts regarding partnerships with local and state agencies to reconnect Warm Springs Creek with . Williams was an early pick to serve in the Biden administration, working for more than a year as principal deputy director of the USFWS before her appointment as director was confirmed in February. Support homegrown news. The guides sent witness statements to an FWP game warden. He parked, stepped out of the vehicle, and raised above his head what looked like a radio antenna. Representing Montana and the state perspective, Williams chaired the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee and was a member of Joint Federal/State Task Force on Federal Assistance Policy. Polly and Robert divorced in 1984, and in 1991, she sold the salon and moved to Helena, where she worked for the State of Montana as the salon inspector until her retirement in 1999, which was due to medical issues. Your support helps quality Montana journalism thrive! But there are international wildlife affairs, theres refuges, theres fisheries and aquatic conservation, theres science application, theres the Partners program. Share your thoughts and memories of Paulette, Share your thoughts and memories with family and friends of Paulette. Does the Interior Department worry about what recovery looks likefor grizzlies and wolvesunder state management? How many covert wars, miscarriages of justice, and dystopian technologies would remain hidden if our reporters werent on the beat? Cremation has taken place, and a memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, May 26, 2021, at Messiah Lutheran Church with Pastor Sean Janssen officiating. It was the kind of extreme proposal that normally died on the governors desk in Montana, but things had changed the previous fall. Montana's independent nonprofit news source. Polly is survived by her children, Candi (D.J.) Were always respecting private property rights, recognizing tribal sovereignty, and I think America the Beautiful amplifies these efforts and its how we can get work done to conserve this countrys land and waters. At the same time, the results of Williamss review committee came to fruition in the form of the states 2021 wolf regulations. In October, President Joe Biden announced he was nominating her to take the agencys top post, which oversees 567 national wildlife refuges and about 8,000 employees. Martha Williams confirmation to lead the U.S. Steve Bullock, according to a . The move was unprecedented and political: Tester was up for reelection in one of the most important races of 2012, facing an opponent who claimed that he was out of touch with rural voters on the wolf issue. Montana abortion providers on Friday sued the state health department in an attempt to block a new rule adopted by the Gianforte administrations health department that restricts how the state will pay for abortions through its Medicaid program. Burial will be at a later date with her late husband Oakley in Nary, MN. Prior to her appointment, Martha served as the Director of the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks from 2017 to 2020. Tom Kuglin is the deputy editor for the Lee Newspapers State Bureau. As you do in all leadership, you show the way. What does the community want? Click a location below to find Martha more easily. Williams was the first female director of Montana FWP. The review followed dramatic regional changes in state hunting and trapping regulations. Paulette Martha Williams. FWP dealt with a number of difficult and often contentious issues during her tenure grizzly bear management, the introduction of aquatic invasive species, and the spread of chronic wasting disease, to name a few. Thats a total collective effort. Greg Gianforte nominated the agencys new director Hank Worsech, a 17-year FWP employee who most recently served as license bureau chief. The U.S. Senate confirmed Martha Williams to lead the U.S. In that role, she mediated a number of contentious issues, including implementing a wolf hunting season and expanding visitor services. There she oversaw management of nearly 700 employees and more than 50 state parks. Williams has received the support of both of Montanas senators. Fisheries and Wildlife Service director for the Biden administration. Williams was the director of FWP in Montana from 2017 to 2020. Advocacy organizations soon noticed the prohibition on aerial hunting had disappeared and called on a Montana judge to issue an injunction to stop the practice. Stone-Manning, a former staffer of Bullock and Tester, and most recently a senior advisor to the National Wildlife Federation, saw Republicans calling for her nomination to be withdrawn over her ties to environmental activists prosecuted nearly 30 years ago for spiking trees in an Idaho timber sale. The former Montana FWP director takes a high-profile post with U.S. The ranger told me that, following his kill, he became the subject of a National Park Service investigation in which he and other Yellowstone law enforcement officials were accused falsely, he said of sharing location information on collared wolves with hunters outside the park. Sign up for our free daily newsletter to get unbiased, independent Montana news sent directly to you. Local led, locally initiated projects are the way to go. Martha Williams, nominee to lead the U.S. Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. As part of the U.S. Geological Surveys Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units Program, which partners graduate students and state fish and wildlife agencies for research and technical assistance purposes, Ausband is both a federal employee and a faculty member at the University of Idaho. Wolves on Fountain Flats at Yellowstone National Park, in 2020. on about your day, ask yourself: How likely is it that the story you just read would have been produced by a different news outlet if The Intercept hadnt done it? Martha has a wealth of knowledge and experience in managing public wildlife, public lands and waters, and striking that balance between people and wildlife in the many complex issues around these incredible resources.. If you wish to give again during our spring fundraiser, know that your additional gift, be it one-time or recurring, makes a monumental impact in helping quality independent journalism thrive. Ausband was among a group of officials from Idaho, Montana, and Yellowstone National Park who gathered each year to sort out which packs belonged to which jurisdictions. Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., walks through the Capitol building in Washington, D.C., on Aug. 6, 2022. We secured a 30-minute phone interview with her, which has been edited below for brevity and clarity. During her tenure, she also taught continuing legal education classes on real property law and on public participation in government. As the truck pulled away, a third guide recognized the driver as one of the areas most well-known proponents of aggressive wolf hunting north of Yellowstone. Montana Free Press is rooted in Montana, and its thanks to readers like you who love our state that our nonprofit newsroom continues to grow. She then spent two years as a deputy solicitor for the Interior . She was an avid Vikings and Minnesota Twins fan. In the closing days of the session, a duel or a duet? OL: Id like to pivot to a topic thats been top of mind in the hunting and shooting community. The reason, they argue, is that she is unqualified under the law. Despite the many opportunities already offered under the law, Republican lawmakers and a subset of hunters and trappers had long argued that Montanas regulations did not go far enough. Despite the pushback, Gianfortes commissioners approved the most aggressive regulationsin recentMontana historyfor last winters wolf hunt. OL: Population numbers are generally the triggers for listing species as threatened or endangered, and population numbers are also the benchmark for recovery of those species. At a court hearing in February, Hawkaluk described how Williamss review committee concluded that wolves were not in fact protected from aerial hunting under state law. Without public notice, the prohibition against using radio telemetry equipment was also gone. Her new desk might be in Helena, but Martha Williams sees her new job as director of Montana's Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks more as a road trip. Two policy decisions from Williamss Montana years are central to the assessments she is making in her Endangered Species Act review. Polly graduated from Bemidji High School in 1961, and began attending the Duluth School of Beauty Culture soon after. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland. Once wolves were recovered, the states game commissioners would decide which of Montanas more conventional categories fit the animals best. Ms. Martha Williams, Montana Department of Wildlife, Fish and Parks, Director (Absent, no proxy) Senator Mike Lang, Senate District 17 . You will be directed to the following website in 5 seconds: We hope your visit was informative and enjoyable. Another piece of the Great American Outdoors Act is that it also funded 70 wage-grade positions around the country. Subscribe to OL+ for our best feature stories and photography. Rich Janssen is director of Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes Natural Resources Department. How do we get more people to understand or want to care about birds or plants or water, much less big game? . But ultimately, Its all about not needing to list and about getting species to recovery. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) by . Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. Prior to teaching at the University of Montanas Alexander Blewitt III School of Law, she was the Interior Departments deputy solicitor for parks and wildlife. Before the transfer of management authority could happen, however, the states needed to prove that they had a regulatory framework in place to support continued wolf recovery. No name calling. Polly enjoyed fishing, so much so, that she and Oakley spent their honeymoon ice fishing. Martha Williams, the former head of Montanas Fish, Wildlife and Parks Department has been confirmed by the U.S. Senate as the new director of the U.S. In August, the Center for Biological Diversity filed a lawsuit against the director for failing to meet the deadline in the wolf status review. In an emailed statement about Williams confirmation, Montana Sen. Jon Tester, a Democrat, said the agency is in good hands. Instead of bestowing protections, the designation made the animals vulnerable to a tactic used for the culling of feral hogs. MW: I cant comment on the litigation specifically, but I do wonder about the underlying concerns about the litigation. On Wednesday, shortly after Joe Biden was inaugurated as President of the United States, the Department of the Interior announced that Martha Williams would be the Principal Deputy Director of the U.S. As for using telemetry in wolf hunts, Jacobsen added: This would not be lawful while in the act of hunting under Montanas statute on two-way communication.. The Biden administration announced last Thursday that it is nominating former Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks director Martha Williams to become director of the U.S. Having spent the majority of her career at the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks and as a fellow Montana sportsman, Ms. Martha Williams knows that first hand, Daines wrote. I feel like weve come a long ways, from saying this is who we are and you can join us or not. We want everyone to feel welcome, and do what we can to feel they belong in the outdoors. Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window). In January, the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public works approved her nomination as director of the U.S. After her graduation from beauty school, she moved to Havre, MT, to be near her sisters. My life is steeped in conservation. So we have to factor shifting values in this country, and those shifting values are adding pressure to an already complicated issue. Williams faces questions in confirmation hearing for U.S. On July 20, the day The Intercepts wolf investigation went live, Cam Sholly, the superintendent of Yellowstone National Park, sent a letter to Montanas game commissioners arguing that using telemetry to hunt wolves violated the fair chase principle, which holds that human hunters do not take unfair advantage of nonhuman prey, and requested that this prohibition be re-inserted into your regulations.. I am a lifelong student of nature, the outdoors, fish and wildlife management, people management, and what it takes to solves seemingly intractable natural resource issues.. Are those numbers correct, or should they be revisited? He then went on to sign Browns bill and a half dozen other measures targeting the states most iconic predator. Get MTFP's in-depth, independent reporting sent to your inbox every weekday morning. He had neither the uniform nor the vehicle of a government official. Previously, Martha was an Assistant Professor of Law at the Blewett School of Law at the University of Montana in Missoula, Montana where she co-directed the university's Land Use and Natural Resources Clinic. [1], Williams graduated from Garrison Forest School in Owings Mills, Maryland,[2][3] then earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Virginia and a Juris Doctor from the Alexander Blewett III School of Law at the University of Montana. FWP, meanwhile, said its Helena-based special investigations unit was conducting a separate investigation into the wolfs killing. And so here we stand.. Prior to joining Montana Free Press staff in 2021 Amanda was a freelance writer, researcher and interviewer. Williams created a review committee in 2018 to study whether the array of hunting and trapping regulations that FWP produced each year were in line with state law. Each state estimates their own population and theres really none of those debates about border packs anymore, Ausband said. Ive gone from appreciating the on-the-ground piece of [bear management] and really knowing the importance of place and taking that knowledge and thinking of it in this broader perspective. As a Montanan and nonpartisan wildlife expert, Martha has time and again demonstrated her ability to bring sportsmen and conservationists together to find collaborative, science-based solutions to tough problems., Steve Daines, Testers Republican counterpart in the U.S. Senate, also supported Williams nomination. During the Obama Administration, Williams served as Deputy Solicitor Parks and Wildlife at the Department of the Interior for two years, providing counsel to the National Park Service and the Fish and Wildlife Service on issues arising in parks and recreation, fish and wildlife, environmental protection, natural resources assessment and restoration, and land and water conservation law. Martha Williams: Id say my perspective has broadened because my new role allows me to work alongside conservation and community leaders, not just the states, but tribes, NGOs, and other federal agencies. Donate during our spring fundraiser and support quality independent journalism. In DOIs announcement highlighting Williams hire along with that of 20 other Interior Department employees Jennifer Van der Heide, President Joe Bidens chief of staff, said, We look forward to working with the dedicated civil servants at the Department to fulfill Interiors missions, advance President Bidens vision to honor our nation-to-nation relationship with Tribes and uphold the trust and treaty responsibilities to them, address the climate and nature crises, and build a clean energy future that creates good-paying jobs and powers our nation. Fish and Wildlife Service,the former director of Montanas state wildlife agencypledged adherence to the law, science and collaboration during a Wednesday committee hearing. The kind of reporting we do is essential to democracy, but it is not easy, cheap, or profitable. Williams earned a bachelors degree from the University of Virginia and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Montana School of Law. Donate during our spring fundraiser and support quality independent journalism. By that point, hunters and trappers had killed an unprecedented 19 of the parks wolves, many in and around the area where they now stood. For years, MacNulty believed that the regions wolf population was secure. There was an error and we couldn't process your subscription. 2023 Montana's independent nonprofit news source. We cant take wolf recovery for granted, MacNulty said. These are maintenance action teams have really focused on the smaller infrastructure projects in communitiesfishing platforms or hunting blinds or nature trails or auto routes. Im trying to save my old agency, for crying out loud, he said. William's replacement within Montana Gov. Though the work was tedious, it was also critical. That to me is very much what we have to think about when we think about wolves and bears and other predators: how do we make sure that recovery is continuous? At that time, Polly returned to her home state of Minnesota, and it was there that she met and began dating Oakley Williams. 00:04:49 Ms. Martha Williams, Montana Department of Wildlife, Fish and Parks, Director . On Wednesday, Gov. She also served as legal counsel to FWP from 1998 to 2011, when wolf reintroduction was a hot-button issue for the agency. Williams swearing-in ceremony is expected to take place in the coming weeks. Join Jeannie and other MTFP members in helping us reach our spring fundraising goal by setting up a recurring donation today.
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