Lakeview BLM seeks input on wild horse management plan
The Bureau of Land Management Lakeview Field Office said Thursday it is seeking public comment on an Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact analyzing the potential effects of a wild horse gather and fertility control plan for the Beaty Butte Herd Management Area.
Located about 65 miles east of Lakeview, the HMA comprises approximately 437,650 acres near the Nevada state line. The HMA has a current estimated population of 242 wild horses as of March 1, 2018. The Appropriate Management Level (AML) has been established at 100-250 wild horses.
“This action is the next step in a long-term strategy developed by a collaborative working group of ranchers, wild horse advocates, environmental groups, elected officials, state and federal fish and wildlife agencies to better manage the Beaty Butte HMA for rangeland health, wild horses, wildlife, grazing, and recreation,” said Todd Forbes, acting Lakeview District Manager. The BLM is committed to keeping public landscapes healthy and productive.
The EA analyzes a proposal to helicopter gather all wild horses on the HMA, followed by the return of 100 studs and fertility control-treated mares to the range. Management of the HMA would then shift to a routine ground-trapping system to re-administer fertility inhibitors to mares and remove excess horses to keep the herd population within AML. Horses removed from the range will be prepared for the BLM adoption and sale program.
To review the environmental assessment and to submit comments go to https://eplanning.blm.gov/epl-front-office/eplanning/nepa/nepa_register.do. Hard copies of the documents can be requested by contacting James Price or Paul Whitman at 541-947-2177. Comments may also be mailed to Field Manager, BLM Lakeview District Office, 1301 S. G St., Lakeview, OR 97630. Both electronic and written comments must be received by Sept. 27, 2018 to be considered.
Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or any other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment, including personal identifying information, may be made publicly available at any time. While individuals may request BLM to withhold personal identifying information from public view, the BLM cannot guarantee it will be able to do so.
For additional EA-specific information, please contact Paul Whitman at (541) 947-2177.
