BLM NEWS RELEASE
WINNEMUCCA — The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Winnemucca District, Black Rock Field Office is soliciting public comment on the Jackson Mountains Herd Management Area (HMA) Wild Horse Gather Plan Preliminary Environmental Assessment (EA). The Proposed Action calls for a phased-in approach to reach the appropriate management level over a six to 10 year period. This will be accomplished by conducting an initial wild horse removal in July 2012, and implementing fertility control, adjusting sex ratios and managing a non-breeding population of geldings in subsequent gathers. Substantive comments on this proposal should be submitted by 4:30 p.m., May 1, 2012.
The proposed gather is needed to remove excess wild horses to help prevent further deterioration of range conditions, reduce population growth rates, achieve and maintain a thriving natural ecological balance and maintain healthy wild horse populations. High wild horse numbers combined with low precipitation have resulted in poor forage and water conditions in the HMA. If the situation continues to escalate, wild horses may need to be gathered earlier than proposed. Helicopter drive trap and/or bait trapping may be considered.
The Preliminary EA can be reviewed online at http://www.blm.gov/nv/st/en/fo/wfo/blm_information/nepa0.html. Printed copies are available upon request at the BLM Winnemucca District Office. Written comments should be directed to Melanie Mirati, BLM Winnemucca District, 5100 E. Winnemucca Blvd., Winnemucca NV 89445-2921. Comments can also be submitted by email to [email protected]. Email messages should include “Jackson Gather” in the subject line.
Commenters should be aware before including their address, phone number, e-mail address, or other personal identifying information in their comment, that their entire comment – including personal identifying information – may be made publicly available at any time. While they can ask BLM in their comment to withhold personal identifying information from public review, BLM cannot guarantee that it will be able to do so. Anonymity is not allowed for submissions from organizations or businesses and from individuals identifying themselves as representatives or officials of organizations or businesses.
For more information, contact Melanie Mirati, Winnemucca District at (775) 623-1500 or [email protected].
