BLM NEWS RELEASE
ELKO — The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will conduct a public hearing to discuss the use of motorized vehicles and aircraft in the monitoring and management of wild horses or burros on public lands in Nevada.  The hearing will be held on Thursday, July 1, at 6 p.m. at the Bureau of Land Management Elko District Office, 3900 East Idaho Street, Elko, Nev. in the main conference room.
The purpose of the hearing is to receive information and public comments on the use of helicopters and fixed wing aircraft to inventory wild horse or burro populations and the use of helicopters to gather and remove excess animals. The hearing will also consider the use of motorized vehicles to transport gathered wild horses or burros as well as to conduct field monitoring activities.
Before helicopters or motorized vehicles can be used, a public hearing is required in order to comply with Section 404 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act. The BLM proposes to use a helicopter, fixed wing aircraft and other motorized vehicles to estimate population numbers and obtain seasonal distribution information for wild horse and burro herds throughout Nevada. Also proposed is using a helicopter to assist in gathering excess wild horses and burros on gathers and complexes throughout the state during the coming year. The actual number of areas where gathers will be conducted or inventoried will depend on a number of factors including funding.
For further information concerning the hearing, contact Bryan Fuell at (775) 753-0200 or Heather Emmons at (775) 861-6594. If you cannot attend the hearing, written comments must be mailed to the BLM Elko District Office, Attention: Bryan Fuell, 3900 East Idaho Street, Elko, Nevada 89801 and be received by July 5, 2010 to be considered.
