Tag Archives: Great Divide Basin

Comments needed on BLM’s proposed Great Divide Basin wild horse roundup in Wyoming

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Release Date: 12/10/13
Contacts: Shelley Gregory
307-315-0612

BLM Seeks Public Comments on Proposed Great Divide Basin Wild Horse Gather
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Rock Springs Field Office is launching a 30-day public scoping period prior to preparing an environmental assessment (EA) for a proposed summer 2014 wild horse gather in the Great Divide Basin Herd Management Area (HMA).

The Great Divide Basin HMA is partly located in the checkerboard pattern of mixed public and private land ownership in Sweetwater County and extends from Interstate 80 north to the southeast point of the Wind River Mountains in Fremont County.

The HMA has an appropriate management level (AML) of 415-600 wild horses as identified in the 1997 Green River Resource Management Plan. Population surveys conducted in May found approximately 439 wild horses. Wild horse populations will increase about 15 percent yearly based on previous fertility control; the current population is estimated at 504 and predicted to be 579 in summer 2014.

The BLM proposes to remove approximately 164 wild horses from the HMA. All wild horses on private lands in the checkerboard would be removed in conformance with the 2013 court ordered Consent Decree; some wild horses may be relocated north of the checkerboard. Excess wild horses in the remainder of the HMA would be removed to meet the low AML of 415. The proposed operation would possibly include fertility control.

Public participation is a key component of the EA process. The public is encouraged to identify specific issues, concerns, ideas or mitigation to help ensure the best possible analysis. Written substantive comments may be emailed only to DivideBasin_HMA_WY@blm.gov with “Divide Basin Scoping Comments” in the subject line; or mailed or delivered to the BLM Rock Springs Field Office, Attn: Jay D’Ewart, 280 Highway 191 N., Rock Springs WY 82901. Comments will be accepted until Jan. 10, 2014.

Before including your address, phone number, email address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment – including your personal identifying information – may be made publicly available at any time. While you may ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.

Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 to contact the individual below during normal business hours. The FIRS is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to leave a message or question with the below individual. You will receive a reply during normal business hours.

For more information, please visit www.blm.gov/wy/st/en/info/NEPA/documents/rsfo/divide_basin.html or contact Wild Horse Specialist Jay D’Ewart at 307-352-0331.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land, the most of any Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. The BLM’s multiple-use mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. In Fiscal Year 2012, activities on public lands generated $4.6 billion in revenue, much of which was shared with the States where the activities occurred. In addition, public lands contributed more than $112 billion to the U.S. economy and helped support more than 500,000 jobs.
–BLM–Rock Springs Field Office   280 Highway 191 North      Rock Springs, WY 82901