Interior secretary's decision on gray wolves triggers discord

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar's decision to stick with a Bush administration move that took gray wolves off the endangered-species list in most of the northern Rockies reflects the independent streak that has defined his career. But it has alienated key Obama administration allies, including environmentalists and some lawmakers on Capitol Hill. Salazar's surprise March 6 decision provoked a protest letter from 10 senior House Democrats and a literal howl of delight from Idaho Republican Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter. While White House officials declined to comment on Salazar's move, it has clearly caused a headache for the administration. Lawmakers called senior Obama aides to question the decision, environmental groups filed a Freedom of Information Act request to investigate the decision, and experts inside and outside the administration predicted the issue will end up in court. Interior spokeswoman Kendra Barkoff said Salazar had followed the unanimous recommendation of Fish and Wildlife Service scientists in setting the new policy. "This was a decision based on science," she said...Seattle Times