Make a Stand!
Behold ... Rocket … one of the magnificent curly horses from Wyoming’s Salt Wells Creek.
On July 16th, oral arguments begin in the legal case to protect the Salt Wells, Divide Basin, and Adobe Town herds.
A judge in Cheyenne is set to determine:
Will wild horses remain in these unique and historic areas?
Or will he allow the BLM to “zero them out?"
In the end, the court will decide. But that has not stopped the BLM from pressing ahead.
The agency issued a “scoping report” that serves as a precursor to removing
all of the horses from Salt Wells and Divide Basin,
while shrinking the size of Adobe Town.
The public can comment on the report, and the comments of horse advocates
have never been more important.
***Comments are due on July 8th, 2024 ***
Here is the link:
https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2032715/510
Click “participate.”
Tell the BLM who you are and why you care, and then consider making points along these lines:
On July 16th, oral arguments begin in the legal case to protect the Salt Wells, Divide Basin, and Adobe Town herds.
A judge in Cheyenne is set to determine:
Will wild horses remain in these unique and historic areas?
Or will he allow the BLM to “zero them out?"
In the end, the court will decide. But that has not stopped the BLM from pressing ahead.
The agency issued a “scoping report” that serves as a precursor to removing
all of the horses from Salt Wells and Divide Basin,
while shrinking the size of Adobe Town.
The public can comment on the report, and the comments of horse advocates
have never been more important.
***Comments are due on July 8th, 2024 ***
Here is the link:
https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2032715/510
Click “participate.”
Tell the BLM who you are and why you care, and then consider making points along these lines:
Dear Mr. D'Ewart, Allred, and Snyder,
I submit the following scoping comments for DOI-BLM-WY-D040-2024-0101_EA, "Gather Plan to Remove Excess Wild Horses from Herd Areas Previously Designated as Herd Management Areas."
I urge you to consider the following:
1. The legality of the underlying EIS that sets the AMLs at zero in Salt Wells and Divide Basin (DOI-BLM-WY-D040-2013-0001-RMP-EIS) is a matter currently before the court. Take no further steps before adjudication is complete.
2. Upon the closing of the court case, restore the status of the Salt Wells, Divide Basin, and the northern portion of Adobe Town to herd management areas, managed for wild horses.
3. BLM only identifies two alternatives in the scoping notice: 1) remove all horses with helicopters or bait trapping, and 2) take “no action.” Add alternatives. Options should include:
4. Prepare the required Herd Management Area Plans (HMAPs) for Salt Wells Creek, Divide Basin, and Adobe Town. HMAPs should evaluate the potential for land swaps, a resetting of AML, the reshaping of herd boundaries, and the rehoming of any removed horses to Wyoming herd areas currently without wild horses. Note: BLM must complete HMAPs before taking any actions toward meeting the objectives of the relevant EIS.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
________________
I submit the following scoping comments for DOI-BLM-WY-D040-2024-0101_EA, "Gather Plan to Remove Excess Wild Horses from Herd Areas Previously Designated as Herd Management Areas."
I urge you to consider the following:
1. The legality of the underlying EIS that sets the AMLs at zero in Salt Wells and Divide Basin (DOI-BLM-WY-D040-2013-0001-RMP-EIS) is a matter currently before the court. Take no further steps before adjudication is complete.
2. Upon the closing of the court case, restore the status of the Salt Wells, Divide Basin, and the northern portion of Adobe Town to herd management areas, managed for wild horses.
3. BLM only identifies two alternatives in the scoping notice: 1) remove all horses with helicopters or bait trapping, and 2) take “no action.” Add alternatives. Options should include:
- A resetting or adjustment of AMLs, as opposed to "zeroing out" the herds.
- Land swaps to aid in the consolidation of public lands available to wild horses.
- The potential for redrawing the shape of the herd boundaries, to follow the perimeter of the solid-block public lands in the original HMAs.
- The relocation of any removed horses to herd areas that do not currently serve as habitat for mustangs, including the Cumberland, Slate Creek, La Barge, Desert, Carter Lease, Granger Lease, Continental Peak, Gold Creek, Triangle, Rock Springs, Checkerboard South, Deer Creek, and Bolten herd areas.
4. Prepare the required Herd Management Area Plans (HMAPs) for Salt Wells Creek, Divide Basin, and Adobe Town. HMAPs should evaluate the potential for land swaps, a resetting of AML, the reshaping of herd boundaries, and the rehoming of any removed horses to Wyoming herd areas currently without wild horses. Note: BLM must complete HMAPs before taking any actions toward meeting the objectives of the relevant EIS.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
________________