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Obama’s BLM “Slaughter” Advisory Board Shows True Colors on First Day

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Commentary by R.T. Fitch ~ Author and volunteer President of Wild Horse Freedom Federation

Appointed Anti-Horse/Pro-Slaughter Fanatic Sticks Foot in Mouth During Opening

Jim Stephenson in the best shot for America's horses; an image in a rear view mirror

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has created for themselves yet another PR nightmare with the new appointments of Anti-Horse/Pro-Slaughter activists to their beleaguered and special interest Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Council.  Self proclaimed wild horse hater Callie Hendrickson did her homework and is well aware of the massive public outcry over her appointment to the board as she has spent the last several years of her life trying to wipe out the last of the federally protected free roaming wild horses in Colorado.  With all of the bad press, she didn’t step across the line in her self-indulgent introduction, today, at day one of the biased BLM meeting being held in Reno, NV.

But her partner in crime Jim Stephenson wasted no time in announcing his disdain for wild horses and disengagement from mathematical facts as he stepped right into a giant pile of stallion feces during his personal, and rather lame, introduction.  The following is taken directly from the BLM’s site at http://www.blm.gov/live/

BLM appointee Jim Stephenson doing what he enjoys most, playing with dead animals

” I AM JAMES STEPHENSON . THIS IS MY FIRST YEAR ON THE BOARD. I HAVE BEEN TO ONE MEETING SO FAR. I SPENT THE LAST 16 YEARS WORKING FOR THE YAKAMA INDIAN NATION IN WASHINGTON, SOUTH- CENTRAL WASHINGTON. THEY ARE BIG GAME BIOLOGIST. I ALSO HAVE AN ASSIGNMENT FOR WILD HORSES. WE HAVE SUMMER AROUND 15,000 HEAD ON ABOUT 400,000 ACRES — SOMEWHERE AROUND 15,000 HAD APPEARED I HAVE TO ADMIT, I HAD ANOTHER MOTIVE FOR GETTING ON THE BOARD. THAT WAS TO LET PEOPLE KNOW HOW MANY INDIAN FORCES ARE — THE TOTAL NUMBER EXCEEDS THE NUMBER ON BOM LAND. WE HAVE A NATIONAL TRIBAL HORSE COALITION, UP TO SIX TRIBES. AREN’T SPRINGS, — ORANGE SPRINGS, YAKAMAS, NAVAJOS. NAVAJOS HAVE 70,000 HEAD OF HORSES. THERE ARE LIKELY AT LEAST 100,000 HEAD OF HORSES RUNNING LOOSE AT THIS TIME. I GREW UP IN SOUTHEASTERN OREGON. I DROVE DOWN HERE, AND I REALLY HAVE A REAL LOVE FOR THAT PART OF THE COUNTRY, NORTHERN NEVADA AND SOUTHEASTERN OREGON. AND I REALLY WANT TO SEE THE HORSES, THE POPULATION’S MANAGED AT A PROPER LEVEL. MY EXPERIENCE, I KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN. JUST TO LET YOU KNOW. THANK YOU.”

No, thank you, Jimbo for verifying that the BLM has once again stacked the decks against the horses and brought in a biased, non-mathematician who is going to tell us that there are 100,000 wild horses running around on a few reservations when there are probably less than 20,000 still running free on their rightful land in 10 western states.  Give me a break, Jim.

The more I listen and see the more I am infuriated with the lack of transparency, knowledge and severe absence of depth on the board that is supposed to be advising the BLM on the proper management of the last few of our national icons still breathing air as free entities  It is maddening.  Salazar and Abbey should be fired, at the very least, if not prosecuted for the atrocities that they have committed upon the very charges that they have pledged to protect.

For all of you advocates who are speaking tomorrow, please, speak to the issue that the board is a sham, a farce and we will do all in our power to awaken the spirit of the American people to the disaster that this handful of special interest puppets are besetting upon our symbol of freedom and truth in this, formerly, great land of ours.  Give it all that you have got knowing that the rest of us are standing beside you in spirit.

May the “Force of the Horse®” be with you.

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54 replies »

  1. Nicely put R.T. What I remembered was a lot of grandiose lip service (ass kissing) to each other for jobs they have done badly. I’ll be watching again today to see if they address the accuracy of the AML’s and the HMA’s. You remember when you were in school and did a math problem the teacher wanted to see your work…I want to see their work on just how they can get the numbers so wrong and then lie to our faces.

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  2. I only got to listen to the 1st part of the BS yesterday. There are NOT 22,000 wild horses in NV or even in all the West on public lands. Also SpayVac is being used Joan G. said, and the roundup on Jackson Mt. will start soon because of the drought–just great as there ae young foals now. I didn’t hear what was said about bait trapping–the final clean up IMO. See this link http://www.blm.gov/live/pdfs/April/Statistics.pdf I just got from another advocate and
    http://tinyurl.com/4evvefn pop. chart that says only 11,000 LEFT FREE.

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  3. The whole Yakama nation are big game biologist? Hmmmm. This man can’t even speak in coherent complete sentences. (sounds alot like ss) This is such a sham. The horses/burros are being railroaded by tyrants.

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  4. The man cannot put a good sentence together. He not only fails in math, he fails in english. They are all a bunch of lying charlatans.

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    • I was thinking the same thing….what a blatant, boldfaced, arrogant, murderous IGNORAMUS!!!!!!!!!!

      And the American taxpayer is giving this MORON reimbursement???????????

      Jesus, Mary and Joseph! God save America! God save these animals and the people that care for them, our resources and all our wildlife.

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  5. This is what Raul said yesterday. NEVADA HAS ABOUT $8.5 MILLION, A LITTLE OVER 10% OF THE BUDGET. WE HAVE 83 HERD MANAGEMENT AREAS. IT IS APPROXIMATELY 45% OF THE BUREAU’S AREA IN THE WESTERN STATES. STATEWIDE, OUR APPROPRIATE MANAGEMENT LEVEL FOR HORSES AND BURROS IS 12,688 ANIMALS. PRIOR TO THIS SPRING, WE ESTIMATE WE HAD 22 — THERE IS ABOUT 58 OF 83 MALES OVER AML. 70% OF THOSE ARE OVER THE HIGH END OF AML IN THE STATE. TO DATE, WE HAVE COMPLETED SIX GATHERS FOR HORSES AND BURROS. WE HAVE THREE MORE SCHEDULED FOR THIS SUMMER. AS MANY OF YOU ARE PROBABLY AWARE, NEV. AS WAS THE WESTERN UNITED STATES ARE LOOKING AT SEVERE DROUGHT — NEVADA AS WELL AS THE WESTERN UNITED STATES ARE LOOKING AT SEVERE DROUGHT. WE’RE LOOKING AT WHAT ACTIONS WE MIGHT HAVE TO TAKE ON PUBLIC LAND THAT WILL AFFECT BOTH LIVESTOCK AND POTENTIALLY WILD HORSES AND BURROS. 52% OF OUR STATE IS CONSIDERED IN THE SEVERE DROUGHT CONDITION THAT THIS POINT. — AT THIS POINT. CONTINUE TO LOOK OF ALL TOOLS AVAILABLE TO US WHEN WE CONDUCT OUR GATHERS. WE HAVE A LOT OF LEGAL CHALLENGES. WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK THROUGH THOSE LEGAL CHALLENGES. THE SUCCESS OF OUR PROGRAM HERE DEPENDS ON THE VARIETY AND THE LARGE SUITE OF TOOLS WE WILL NEED TO CONDUCT SUCCESSFUL GATHERS AND TO MANAGE A HERD APPROPRIATELY. THOSE WERE MY REMARKS. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? >> I DID HAVE ONE QUESTION FOR YOU, RAUL. GIVEN THE SITUATION WE HAVE WITH DROUGHT THROUGHOUT THE WEST, SPECIFICALLY IN NEVADA, WHAT TYPES OF IMPACTS D.C. TO THE WILD — IMPACTS DO YOU SEE TO THE WILD HORSES AND BURROS? >> ONE OF OUR HERDS — WE HAVE AREAS WHERE COURSES ARE STARTING TO SEE -=– WHERE HORSE ARE STARTING TO GET DEPRIVED OF WATER. THERE ARE AREAS WHERE THE VEGETATION IS IN TOUGH SHAPE. WE ARE DOING REGULAR MONITORING OF THE HEALTH OF THE RANGE AS WELL AS THE HORSE. WE ARE PRAYING FOR MOISTURE. WE’RE ON TOP OF IT AS FAR AS IDENTIFYING SOME HERDS IN SOME AREAS OF THE STATE THAT ARE IN THE EARLY — ONES THAT NEED TO BE WATCHED. WE DID NOT WANT THOSE HORSES TO GET INTO TOUGH SHAPE. IF WE DO HAVE TO DO IS GATHER, THEY CAN AT LEAST WITHSTAND THE PRESSURES OF THE GATHER. >> THAT IS THE SAME HERD THAT HAD AN EMERGENCY GATHERED TWO OR THREE YEARS AGO? >> YEAH. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD? >> [NO AUDIO] >> JACKSON MOUNTAIN? HEATHER, DO YOU KNOW? [NO AUDIO] >> RAUL, COULD YOU REPEAT THAT? >> OUT OF ABOUT 600 TO 700 ANIMALS, MAYBE 200 ARE WHAT WE ARE MOST CONCERNED ABOUT. WE WILL CONTINUE TO WATCH THAT. WITHOUT MORE MOISTURE, THE REST OF THE AREA COULD GET IN BAD SHAPE, TOO. WE’RE LOOKING AT FOUR OR FIVE OTHER POTENTIAL HEARD AREAS IN THE EARLY STAGES OF OUR RADAR SCREENS. >> [NO AUDIO] >> OBVIOUSLY, IF THERE IS NO WATER IN THE AREA THAT THE HORSES ARE STAYING AROUND, THAT IS A BIG THING. WE ARE LOOKING AT POTENTIALLY BRINGING IN WATER, TRUCKING IN WATER TO THOSE AREAS. IF HORSES HAVE NO FEED — >> [NO AUDIO] >> RIGHT NOW, I THINK IT IS IN THE THREE’S TO FOUR’S AT THIS POINT. WE DO NOT WANTED TO GET MUCH WORSE. THEN THE ANIMALS WILL GET INTO A WEAKENED STATE. THOSE SPECIFICS WILL PICK UP AS WE — AS LILI TALKS TO US ABOUT THE GATHERS. >> WHAT IS THE — ARE YOU INCREASE IN THE INTERVAL OF INSPECTION AS FAR AS MONITORING CONDITIONS OF THE HORSES? ARE YOU MAKING THE INTERVAL OF THE INSPECTION — IS THAT GETTING SHORTER AS THE — I WAS PART OF A REVIEW OF SOME HORSES IN UTAH. LAST YEAR, I THINK IT WAS. THEY WERE ONLY MONITORING EVERY TWO WEEKS. THEY CHANGED THAT TO GO OUT EVERY THREE OR FOUR DAYS AS THE WATER SUPPLY GOT LESS, SO THEY WOULD BE THERE A LITTLE SOONER AND COULD MAKE A DECISION QUICKER IF WATER DEPRIVATION BECAME AN ISSUE. >> WE ARE OUT THERE AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK IN JACKSON MOUNTAIN, IF NOT MORE OFTEN. WE WILL CONTINUE TO BE OUT THERE ON A REGULAR BASIS OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS UNTIL WE DETERMINE WHAT THE BEST ACTION IS TO TAKE. >> ONE QUICK QUESTION. OF THOSE HMA’S YOU’RE LOOKING AT AND MONITORING, ARE ANY OF THOSE ON THE GATHER SCHEDULE FOR THIS YEAR OR NEXT YEAR? OR WILL THEY OBVIOUSLY DID AS EMERGENCY GATHERS — WILL THEY ALL BE SLATED AS EMERGENCY GATHERS? >> JACKSON MOUNTAIN WAS SET FOR JULY. THE OTHERS WERE POTENTIALLY EMERGENCY. WE ARE SEEKING COMMENTS ON THE EA FOR THE GATHER. THAT JUST WENT OUT LAST WEEK, THURSDAY, APRIL 19. THAT IS AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, RAUL. OK. AS EVERYBODY ON THE BOARD READ THE MINUTES — HAS EVERYBODY ON THE BOARD READ THE MINUTES? DO WE HAVE AN AGREEMENT TO APPROVE THOSE MINUTES? NO QUESTIONS? THOSE MINUTES WILL BE APPROVED — CERTIFIED AND ACCEPTED. OK. NEXT ON THE LIST WILL BE AN UPDATE, A PROGRAM OF DAY FROM OUR — PROGRAM UPDATE FROM OUR LEAD, JOAN GUILFOYLE. >> IS THIS GOOD ENOUGH? ALL RIGHT. THANKS, BOYD. I WILL PUT THIS NEWS RELEASE ON THE BACK TABLE. IT’S THE ONLY COPY I THINK WE HAVE. GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK YOU. I WILL REPEAT WHAT OTHERS HAVE SAID. WELCOME, CALLIE, JUNE, AND BOYD. THANK YOU, ROBIN AND GARY. THANKYOU, BOYD — THANK YOU, BOYD, FOR OFFERING TO BE THE INTERIM CHAIR DURING THIS MEETING. WE APPRECIATE THAT. ONCE ROBIN’S TERM WAS UP AND SHE HAD BEEN CHAIR FOR SO LONG, WE REALIZE WE HAD NOT HAD TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO ELECT A NEW CHAIR FOR 13 OR 14 YEARS. WE WILL ADDRESS THAT TOMORROW ON THE AGENDA. I WANT TO THANK THE FOLKS WHO WORK WITH ME IN THE STATE FOR HELPING PUT THIS MEETING TOGETHER. AND THESE GREAT BOOKS. GOOD JOB. I HAVE A LOT OF THINGS I WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU ALL AND HAVE THE STAFF SHARE FROM SOME OF THEM WILL BE COMING UP AS WELL. AMONG THEM ARE FOLLOW-UP MEETINGS — FOLLOW-UP ITEMS TO OUR LAST MEETING. SOME ARE CHANGES WITHIN THE PROGRAM, EITHER TEMPORARY OR PERMANENT. THERE ARE SOME SUCCESSES THAT I WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU THAT I FEEL WE HAVE HAD, AND ALSO SOME CHALLENGES. FIRST, I WOULD LIKE TO DIRECT YOUR ATTENTION TO THE SECOND TAB IN YOUR BOOKS. THIS WILL GO TO THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT YOU MADE TO US AT THE OCTOBER MEETING. THIS DOCUMENT IS POSTED ON THE WEB. IT IS A WORD DOCUMENT. IT WOULD NOT HAVE DONE VERY WELL BEING PROJECTED. IT IS IN THE BOOK AT THE BACK OF THE ROOM. WE DID BRING A SPARE BUT FOR FOLKS WHO DID NOT PRINT EVERYTHING OUT. WE ARE TRYING TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT HOW MUCH WE ARE PRINTING. SO, THESE ARE THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT YOU MADE TO US. WHAT I WANT TO DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO FIRST, OF THE FIRST FIVE ON THIS LIST, WHICH ARE ALL ABOUT EITHER BLM WORKING GROUPS THAT WE WANT TO HAVE SOME OF YOU ASSIST US WITH OR AN ADVISORY BOARD WORKING GROUP THAT YOU HAVE FORMED. THOSE ARE THE FIVE RECOMMENDATIONS. I WANT TO CLARIFY A COUPLE OF DEFINITIONS FOR YOU ABOUT WHAT THIS MEANS. FOR THAT, I’M GOING TO THROW YOU TO TAB 3. GO BACK TO THE THIRD YELLOW PIECE OF PAPER, WHERE YOU WILL FIND A DOCUMENT THAT IS CALLED THE GUIDELINES REGARDING WILD HORSE AND BURRO ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS’ PARTICIPATION OUTSIDE OF THE OFFICIAL MEETINGS. TAB 3, YELLOW. THERE ARE A COUPLE OF YELLOW INSERTS. THIS IS BEHIND THE THIRD YELLOW INSERT. I WANT TO WALK YOU THRU THE TWO KINDS OF GROUPS AND THEN GO BACK TO WHAT YOU RECOMMENDED AND WHAT WE HAVE ACCEPTED FOR THOSE. IS EVERYBODY WITH ME? OK. SO, THE FIRST KIND OF GROUP THAT IS LISTED HERE — AND WE WENT TO PROPER REGULATIONS TO GET THIS CLARIFIED — IS AN ADVISORY BOARD FORMED A WORKING GROUP. THOSE ARE GROUPS THAT ARE FORMED BY THE ADVISORY BOARD. THE MEMBERSHIP IS COMPRISED COMPLETELY AND ONLY OF BOARD MEMBERS, ACTIVE BOARD MEMBERS. THE BLM WILL PROVIDE INFORMATION TO U.S. YOUR REQUEST ON WHENEVER THE TOPIC IS THAT WORKING GROUP IS GOING TO WORK ON. THE BLM DOES NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE GROUP DISCUSSIONS. IT IS STRICTLY A BOARD FORMED A GROUP — A BOARD-FORMED GROUP. WHEN THAT 4-4 WORKING GROUP IS DONE DISCUSSING THE ISSUE, WHAT EVER IT IS, THE REPORT THOSE RESULTS BACK TO THE BOARD. THE BOARD CAN DECIDE AS A WHOLE IF YOU WANT TO RECOMMEND SOMETHING TO US. THAT IS ONE KIND OF WORKING GROUP. AS YOU CAN TALK THE BOTTOM OF THIS — YOU WARMED. YOU RECOMMENDED TWO DIFFERENT ADVISORY BOARD FOR GROUPS. ONE TO EVALUATE PROTOCOL FOR OPTIMIZING VOLUNTEERS. THIS IS RIGHT ABOVE THE #TWO. AND A WORKER TO EXPAND THE TOOLBOX FOR POPULATION GROWTH SUPPRESSION AND ALL ALTERNATIVE MODES OF GROWTH FOR POPULATION GROWTH SUPPRESSION. WITHOUT JUMPING AROUND TO MUCH, WE HAVE ACCEPTED BOTH OF THOSE. WE HAVE ACCEPTED THE MEMBERSHIPS THAT HE RECOMMENDED, ABSENT IF SOMEONE IS NO LONGER ON THE BOARD. BOTH OF THOSE GROUPS WERE ACCEPTED. THE SECOND AND A GROUP HERE IS THE BLM FORMED GROUP — FOR M. M — BLM-FORMED WORKING GROUP. THOSE ARE GROUPS THAT ARE FORMED BY US AT THE BLM. WE REQUEST EXTERNAL EXPERTS TO SERVE ON THOSE GROUPS TO HELP US. THE BOARD RECOMMENDS WHICH OF YOU WILL BE ON THAT. THE EXTERNAL EXPERTS — AND THIS IS IMPORTANT — YOU CAN MEET WITH THE BLM, FOR GROUPS TO PRESENT YOUR INDEPENDENT VIEWS AND RECOMMENDATIONS, PARTICIPATE AS INDIVIDUALS, AND CONTRIBUTE INDEPENDENT OPINIONS ON THE ISSUES AND MATERIALS OF THE QUESTIONS OF THE BLM FOR GROUP — FORM GROUP. WE DO NOT COLLABORATE WITH THE BLM. YOU WILL SERVE AS INDIVIDUALS, GIVING YOUR EXPORTED RICE TO US. YOU DO NOT HELP US DECIDE WHAT TO DO WHEN THE ISSUES. >> AT THE OCTOBER MEETING, THERE ARE THREE SETS OF EXTERNAL EXPERTS THAT YOU RECOMMENDED. AGAIN, WE HAVE ACCEPTED ALL OF THEM. LET ME FINISH A LITTLE MORE ABOUT THAT GROUP. THE BLM GROUP, WE FORMER OUR FINDINGS AND WE REPORT THEM TO YOU, THE BOARD. IT DOES MAKE SENSE. YOU HAVE TO THINK ABOUT IT LYNN NEARLY — LINEAR LY. WE HAVE ACCEPTED THE THREE PEOPLE TO BE ON THE COMPREHENSIVE ANIMAL WELFARE TEAM. ONE PERSON TO BE ON THE BLM RESEARCH COMMITTEE. AND ONE PERSON TO WORK WITH US ON OUR PROGRAM STRATEGY IMPLEMENTATION. YOU CAN SEE THOSE ON THE BACK SIDE OF THIS PAGE. THAT IS WHAT YOU-4 IS THE OCTOBER — THAT IS WHAT YOU ASKED FOR IN OCTOBER. THAT IS WHAT WE AGREE WITH. WE MET IN OCTOBER. IT IS APRIL. IT HAS BEEN A LONG TIME. WE DID NOT OFFICIALLY APPROVE THIS. THAT HAS BEEN ONE OF THE NUANCES, THE WAY WE HAVE BEEN OPERATING. WITHIN ONE MONTH OF THE MEETING, WE WILL GIVE YOU OUR ANSWERS. IT ACCEPT THE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE NOT WITHIN A MONTH. SO THAT NO GROUP IS LEFT HANGING, WANTING TO HELP, CANNOT HELP, BECAUSE IT IS NOT OFFICIAL. THE OTHER THING WE HAVE DECIDED TO SHIFT IS THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING. USUALLY, WE TAKE THEM — THE DRAFT GET OUT, BUT YOU DO NOT REALLY SEE THE DRAFT UNTIL JUST BEFORE THE NEXT MEETING, WHICH IS KIND OF A LONG TIME TO REMEMBER WHAT WAS SAID. WE ARE COMMITTED TO GETTING THE DRAFT MINUTES OUT TO YOU FOR REVIEWING. WE STILL HAVE TO APPROVE THEM OFFICIALLY AT THE NEXT MEETING, LIKE WE JUST DID, BUT WE WANT TO BE MORE RESPONSIVE AND GET THAT BUSINESS TAKEN CARE OF. IF YOU GO BACK TO HAVE TO, I WILL RUN THROUGH WHO THOSE PEOPLE ARE — BACK TO TAB 2, I WILL RUN THROUGH WHO THOSE PEOPLE ARE. THE FIRST ONE IS DR, BRAY,. 00 THE FIRST ONE IS DR. BRAY — THE FIRST ONE IS DR. BRAY. THE SECOND ONE WAS NOT ACCEPTED. SHE IS NO LONGER ON THE BOARD. NO. 3 WAS DR. BRAY AND TIM HARVEY. THAT WAS ACCEPTED. ROBBIN — ROBIN WAS ON THE LIST, BUT SHE CAN NO LONGER SERVE BECAUSE SHE IS NO LONGER ON THE BOARD. DR. BRAY AND DR. SPRATLING AS MEMBERS OF AN ADVISORY-FORMED GROUP FOR THE EXPANDING THE TOOLBOX FOR POPULATION GROWTH DETECTION — DEPRESSION . WE HAD LAST BEEN TO BE THE POINT OF CONTACT FOR THAT GROUP — WE HAVE ASKED BEEN TO BE THE POINT OF CONTACT FOR THAT GROUP. — ASKED DEAN TO BE THE POINT OF CONTACT FOR THAT GROUP. THE FIFTH GROUP, TO EVALUATE PROTOCOL FOR OPTIMIZING VOLUNTEERS, THE PROPOSED PEOPLE MERE JULIE GLEASON, TIM HARVEY, AND PAUL DURBIN. CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT? >> THIS WOULD BE ONE OF THOSE SPOTS WHERE WE NEED A PRE PLACEHOLDER — NEED A PLACE HOLDER TOMORROW. PERHAPS WE CAN GET VOLUNTEERS FOR THE WORKING GROUPS. >> OK. I WILL MAKE NOTE NOW THAT I WILL HAVE A REQUEST FOR YOU WITH SOME EXTERNAL EXPERTS A LITTLE LATER ON IN THE MEETING, FOR ANOTHER BLM-FORMED GROUP. >> BARRING THOSE TOP FIVE RECOMMENDATIONS, I DO NOT KNOW IF YOU WANT TO GO THROUGH SIX THROUGH NINE OR IF YOU HAVE THE CHANCE TO READ THEM. BASICALLY, THEY HAVE ALL , FOR THE MOST PART, BEEN EXPECTED. WOULD YOU LET ME TO READ THROUGH THEM? NO. 6 WAS THAT THE BOARD RECOMMENDED PROMOTING THE ACCELERATION OF THE USE OF SPACE BACKS. THAT WAS EXPECTED. WE ARE DOING THAT AGGRESSIVELY — THAT WAS ACCEPTED. WE’RE DOING THAT AGGRESSIVELY. THERE IS SOME INFORMATION FOR BACKGROUND PURPOSES. NO. 7 WAS THAT THE BOARD RECOMMENDED WE POST THE ONGOING STATUS OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE STRATEGY. WE ACCEPT THE RECOMMENDATION AND ONGOING STATUS REPORTS WILL BE PERIODICALLY POSTED ON THE WEB SITE. IF THEY HAVE BEEN, THEY WILL CONTINUE TO BE. NO. 8 WAS THAT THE BOARD RECOMMENDED — THE LANGUAGE WITH REGARD TO WHICH ANIMALS ARE SOLD, THEIR CARE, THEIR SUSTENANCE — LOCAL AND MOMENT CONTROL IS ALREADY CONTACTED. THE BLM EXCEPT THE FIRST PART. YOU CAN READ HERE THAT THE LANGUAGE OF THE SALES QUESTIONNAIRE HAS BEEN ADJUSTED. I THINK SUNNI WILL TALK ABOUT THAT IN HER UPDATE ABOUT ADOPTIONS AND SALES. — I THINK SALLY WILL TALK ABOUT THAT IN HER UPDATE ABOUT ADOPTIONS AND SALES. WE DID NOT ACCEPT THE SECOND RAPINE NATION — THE SECOND RECOMMENDATION ABOUT LOCAL ANIMAL CONTROL. WE DO NOT FEEL WE HAVE THE CAPACITY TO TAKE ON THAT ADDITIONAL WORK LOAD. WE WOULD SAY THAT THIS COULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR INTERESTED NONPROFIT TO LOOK INTO THEMSELVES. IT COULD BE A VALUABLE SERVICE. IT IS JUST NOT SENDING THE BLM HAS CAPACITY TO DO. — NOT SOMETHING THE BLM HAS CAPACITY TO DO. WE ACCEPTED NO. 9. LETTERS WERE SENT OUT IN JANUARY. I’M NOT SURE. IT IS DONE. THAT IS ON THE RECOMMENDATIONS. ANY QUESTIONS? OK. A COUPLE OF THINGS I WANTED POINT OUT TO YOU THAT I WANT TO CREDIT RAMONA FOR DOING A GREAT JOB ON. YOU’LL NOTICE A COUPLE OF NEW THINGS. YOUR CURRENT CONTACT LIST IS THERE. YOU WILL KNOW HOW TO GET A HOLD OF EACH OTHER. WE WILL START ADDING NEWS RELEASES. THE NEWS RELEASES THAT CAME OUT FROM THE LAST MEETING TO THIS ONE WILL START BEING ADDED IN. YOU MIGHT BE AWARE OF THEM. IN CASE YOU ARE NOT, WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE YOU WERE. THE FACT SHEETS — WE WILL START PUTTING THOSE IN YOUR BOOK. THAT IS A GOOD WAY TO DO SOME MORE PUBLIC INFORMATION, BUT ALSO FOR THE BOARD. YOU’LL SEE A SHIFT FOR THAT KIND OF THING. IF YOU HAVE ANY IDEAS OF THINGS YOU WOULD LIKE IN THE BOOK, PLEASE LET US KNOW. A COUPLE OF THINGS I WANT TO SAY ABOUT THINGS IN GENERAL. AS HAS BEEN MADE CLEAR, THIS IS A BIG TIME OF TRANSITION FOR THE BOARD. WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT HAVING A NEW CHAIR FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 14 YEARS. WE TALKED ABOUT THE FACT THAT WE HAVE TO LOOK UP OUT TO A POINT THE CHAIR BECAUSE IT HAD NOT BEEN DONE FOR SO LONG. — HOW TO APPOINT A CHAIR BECAUSE IT HAD NOT BEEN DONE FOR SO LONG. AS YOU KNOW, EVERY YEAR, THREE MEMBERS — NEW MEMBERS COME IN. THIS YEAR WE HAVE, AS OF MARCH, JUNE, COWLEYALLIE, AND BOYD. NEXT YEAR, THE WILD BUT POSITION, WHICH IS HELD BY PAUL, THE HUMANE ADVOCATE POSITION, WHICH IS HELD BY TIM, AND THE LIVESTOCK POSITION, WHICH IS HELD BY GARY — THOSE ARE THE THREE THAT WILL BE UP IN MARCH OF 2013. THE REGISTER NOTICE WILL BE CAUGHT IN JUNE — THE REGISTER NOTICE WILL GO OUT IN JUNE. A COUPLE OF THINGS TO SAY ABOUT THE BOARD. I AM REALLY PLEASED TO GET TO KNOW YOU BETTER AND TO HAVE YOU ON HERE. I THINK YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO REFLECT THE DIVERSITY OF OPINIONS THAT ARE OUT THERE IN THE PUBLIC REALM ABOUT THIS ISSUE. WE LOOK TO YOU TO HELP RESOLVE, CONSULT WITH EACH OTHER RESPECTFULLY, AGREE TO DISAGREE ON THINGS. COME UP WITH NEW PATHWAYS FORWARD. I AM VERY HAPPY THAT WE HAVE SUCH A GOOD BLEND OF PERSPECTIVES. I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT. I THINK, FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, YOUR JOB IS TO HELP US NAVIGATE AND FIND OUR WAY TOWARD COMMON GROUND AMONG DIFFERENT VIEWPOINTS SO THAT WE CAN MAKE PROGRESS AND HELP RESOLVE THIS INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT ISSUE. IT IS PROBABLY THE NUMBER- ONE LAND MANAGEMENT, A HUMAN- DIMENSION ISSUE IN THE COUNTRY. THANK YOU FOR TAKING THIS ON AND FOR VOLUNTEERING YOUR TIME. IT IS NOT EASY. I AM SURE YOU CAN SAY THAT MORE IN SPADES AND I CAN. INTERNALLY, I WANT TO TELL YOU ABOUT THE PROGRAM. WE ARE DOING SOME TEMPORARY SHIFTS, GIVING PEOPLE DIFFERENT JOBS AND GETTING PEOPLE DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES. ZACK IS OUT DOING A DETAIL. WE HAVE SOMEONE COMING IN FROM FOREST SERVICE TWO OR THREE DAYS A WEEK TO HELP US OUT. WE HAVE AN OUTREACH POSITION THAT WE JUST GOT APPLICANTS FOR, TO DO WILD HORSE & BURRO COMMUNICATION ON A HOLISTIC BASIS. I WILL FILL THAT THE TELL PRETTY SOON. ONCE THAT FOUR MONTHS IS UP, WE WILL LOOK AT MAKING THAT POSITION PERMANENT. WE WANT TO CONCLUDE WHAT THE JOB SHOULD BE BEFORE WE FIGURE OUT WHAT THE POSITION WILL SAY. WE HAVE A VACANCY FOR THE RESEARCH TEAM LEAD AND A POPULATION CENSUS COORDINATOR LEAD. I WILL HAVE TO ASK FOR AN UPDATE ON WHERE THAT IS. I DO NOT ACTUALLY KNOW. >> WHERE IS THE VACANCY PROCESS WITH THAT? WE HAVE A LIST OF QUALIFIED CANDIDATES AND WE ARE REFUTED THEM — >> WE HAVE A LIST OF QUALIFIED CANDIDATES AND WE ARE REVIEWING THEM. WE ARE TRYING TO GET SOMEONE IN ON AN INTERIM BASIS TO HELP, AS THEIR PROGRAM GETS MORE SOLID AND CLEAR, DO WE NEED A FULL- TIME COORDINATOR, IT IS A PART- TIME POSITION. BUT WE’RE LOOKING AT OPTIONS. POTENTIALLY WORKING WITH A DOCTORATE UC-DAVIS TO DEVELOP THESE ASSESSMENT TOOL SO WE WILL BE USING. WE ALSO, JUST FOR YOUR INFORMATION, LIKE EVERY OTHER PROGRAM THE GOVERNMENT, WE ARE LOOKING AT POTENTIAL BUDGET CUTS, HAVING TO DO MORE WITH LESS. WE’RE LOOKING AT SOME OF OUR POSITIONS, FOR EXAMPLE, THE HALFTIME, THREE QUARTER TIME SHARE, ON OTHER PEOPLE. WE’RE LOOKING AT THAT BEING SHIFTED TO A FULL-TIME POSITION. AT THE SAME TIME, WE’RE LOOKING AT IF WE SHOULD REORGANIZE OUR STAFF. KATHYIE HAS BEEN HELPING US LOOK AT THAT. THAT IS PART OF HER EXPERTISE. I THING THAT IS IMPORTANT. ANY QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT. ED MENTIONED THE DIRECTORS CHALLENGE. I WOULD LIKE TO TURN OVER TO SAUDI — SALLY AND JOHN A. MORE EXCLAMATION — A MORE FULL EXPLANATION. >> IT IS GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL AGAIN. WE HAD ON THIS MORNING. THE DIRECTOR’S CHALLENGE — THE OBJECTIVE WAS TO DEVELOP CITIZENS AND CLIENTS OPPORTUNITIES TO ENHANCE THE BLM AND STAKEHOLDER KNOWLEDGE OF RESOURCE CONDITIONS ON PUBLIC LAND. ROBERT — PROJECTS WERE ELIGIBLE FOR SUPPORT FUNDING OF UP TO 20 PART THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR FIELD OFFICES. IF SELECTED FOR IMPLEMENTATION — UP TO $25,000 OR FIELD OFFICES, IF SELECTED FOR IMPLEMENTATION. THERE WERE 12 PROPOSALS SUBMITTED. ONE PROPOSAL FROM CALIFORNIA, FOUR PROPOSALS FROM COLORADO, AND SEVEN PROPOSALS FROM NEVADA. 18 OF BLM STAFF — A TEAM OF BLM STAFF AND EXPERTS PROPOSED BID — REVIEW THE PROPOSALS. IT INCLUDED INSTALLING INTERBEDDED KIOSKS — INTERPRETED KIOSKS TO NOT FEED THE BOROUGH’S — BURROS. ALL OF THE PROPOSALS WERE FUNDED. IT WAS A TOTAL OF $272,000. IT WAS GREAT. EVERY PROPOSAL WAS ABLE TO GET FUNDED. WE ARE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT. DID I MISS ANYTHING? OK. I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE YOU ALL TO JOHN WILSON. HE IS FROM THE BLM. HE WILL TELL YOU ABOUT HIS DIRECTOR’S CHALLENGE PROJECT. >> HOW IS EVERYBODY DOING THIS AFTERNOON. I HAVE A POWERPOINT PRESENTATION THAT WE WILL GET GOING. CAN YOU SEE THE SCREEN AT ALL? >> YES. >> I WILL PRESENT — I WILL PRESENT THE OVERVIEW OF THIS ABETTED PROPOSAL — OF THIS AMENDED PROPOSAL. I WILL GIVE YOU A BRIEF OVERVIEW FOR THE NEED OF THE PROPOSAL. I WILL GIVE YOU A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE PROPOSAL PROJECT THAT THIS IS A SUBSET OF. I WILL PRESENT THE DETAILS OF THE SUBMITTED DIRECTOR POSTULANT PROPOSAL. YOU CAN — DIRECTOR’S PROPOSAL. YOU CAN SKIP THIS SLIDE. YOU CAN GO THROUGH ALL OF THESE. I JUST DID THAT REALLY QUICK. SORRY. I DID NOT KNOW I WOULD NOT HAVE CONTROL. GO AHEAD TO THE NEXT. THE NAME OF THE PROJECT IS — . NEXT. IS APPROXIMATELY 105 ACRE EXPOSURE FUNDS. — DEFENSE — IT IS APPROXIMATELY 105 ACRES OF EXPOSED FENCE. CAN YOU BRING UP THE EIGHT CHAIRMEN MAP– BRING UP THE HMA MAP? THERE ARE 32,000 ACRES OF DIRECT TREATMENT. THE BRIGHT GREEN IS THE BOULTON CANYON EXPOSURE — DALTON CANYON EXPOSURE FENCE. YOU CAN SEE THE TREE ENCROACHMENT, THE PINON JUNIPER TREES. THEN THERE IS A WET MEADOW. THERE IS A PERENNIAL STREAMS THAT FEED THE BOTTOM THAT FLOWS FROM BOTTOM TO TOP. THERE ARE SEVERAL SPRINGS. NEXT. IF YOU CLICK BACK , IT SHOULD GO BACK TO THE TEXT. OK. I WILL JUST TALK THIS THROUGH. WE’RE GOING TO HAVE VEGETATION MONITORING TRANSAXLE AND GRAEME MONITORING — TRANSACTS ECTS AND GROUND MONITORING. WE USED TO HAVE SOME SAGE GROUSE HERE. THE VEGETATION IS VERY DEGRADED. WE’RE GOING TO EXCLUDE FLOOD STOCK FOR THREE YEARS. — EXCLUDE LIVESTOCK FOR THREE YEARS. WE WOULD USE SOME BRUSH TO PROTECT THE WATER SOURCES. THEY WILL TAKE FIVE TO 10 YEARS TO GET COVERED. I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE DOWN THE FENCE. TO THE NEXT SLIDE. THE ECOLOGICAL CONSEQUENCES OF FURTHER DEGRADATION, THERE ARE MULTIPLE CAUSES. THIS LEADS TO VEGETATION CHANGES. THERE ARE THREE COMPONENTS TO THIS DEGRADATION. THE PINON JUNIPER — PINYON/JUNIPER IS ENCROACHING . THERE ARE LIVESTOCK BREEDING IMPACTS. — THE WILD HORSE IS ABOUT 39% OVER AML IN THISM HMA — IN THIS HMA. HYDROLOGICAL CHANGES HAVE LED TO VEGETATION CHANGES. THERE IS RABBITBRUSH THAT HAS INVADED THE MEADOW. CLICK ON RABBITBRUSH. THIS IS MONOTYPIC STANDS OF RABBITBRUSH. IT SHOULD BE ALL GRASS. THE THREE AND A HALF MILE COMPLEX HAS A LOT OF THIS GOING ON. THIS IS BASICALLY WHAT IS HAPPENING. IT IS CHANGING FROM A WET MEADOW TO A DRY MEADOW. EVENTUALLY, RABBITBRUSH AND SAGEBRUSH WILL MEAN INCOME — WILL MEAN THE METAL WAS COMPLETELY GONE OVER TIME. — THE MEADOW IS COMPLETELY GONE OVER TIME. THE WET MEADOW — CLICK ON DRY PLEASE. SO, THE GREENER PHOTOS WERE TAKING IN AUGUST, JUST AFTER THE COWS WERE PUSHED BEYOND. THE SLIDE UP TO THE TOP LEFT WAS TAKEN IN OCTOBER. THERE IS BEEN NO GROWTH RECOVERY OF THE SHRUBS ARE ENCROACHING. YOU HAVE A LOT OF — IT IS IN BAD SHAPE. SO, THE LARGER PROJECT THAT WAS JUST ENDED APRIL 4, WE RECEIVED ABOUT 4000 COMMONS. THE LARGER PROJECT INCLUDES WILD HORSE REMOVAL. WE HAVE PROPOSED DEBATE AND WATER TRAPPING AS CONTINUOUS MAINTENANCE DONE BY THE PERMIT T — BERMITTEE — WE HAVE PROPOSED A BAIT AND WATER TRAPPING AS CONTINUOUS MAINTENANCE DONE BY THE PERMITTEE. WE WILL CONDUCT A TOUR FOR COMMENT TERSE — COMMENTERS IN MAY. THE COMMENTS ARE AGAINST HORSE REMOVAL, AGAINST BAIT AND WATER TRAPPING BY THE PERMITTEE. I DEVELOPED THIS WITHIN THE ESTABLISH AML AND THE — ESTABLISHED AML AND ESTABLISHED GRAZING PERMIT, WHICH WILL BE UP IN THE A COUPLE OF YEARS. — UP IN A COUPLE OF YEARS. WE HAVE CURRENT PARTNERSHIPS FOR THE DIRECTOR’S CHALLENGE PROPOSAL. SO FAR, A LOT OF THEM ARE TIED INTO THE LARGER PROJECT. THE NEVADA DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE HAS EXPERTISE IN BUILDING FENCES AND THINGS LIKE THAT. THE PARTNERS FOR CONSERVATION DEVELOPMENT IS A FAIRLY NEW ORGANIZATION. THEY HAVE ESTABLISH AN AND CONDUCTED — ESTABLISH BANK THEY HAVE ESTABLISHED AND CONDUCTED BASELINE TRANSECTS. WE ARE TRYING TO SEE IF WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO ACHIEVE IS BEING ACHIEVED. THERE’S ALSO THE NATURAL RESOURCE CONSERVATION SERVICE. THEY HAVE HELPED WITH DALTON CANYON. WHAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE OPINION/JUNIPER — PIN YON/JUINPER AND — PINYON/JUNIPER AND WHAT IS NOT? WE’LL INCREASE THE SAGE GROUSE MONITORING TO SEE THE RESPONSE TO TREATMENTS. THAT WILL BE DONE IN THE OVERALL PROJECT AS WELL OVER TIME. GO AHEAD AND CLICK THE NEXT ONE. ARS ARE HELPING WITH GROUND WATER MONITORING WELLS. THEY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED IS TO GATHER BASELINE DATA. THAT WILL HELP ASSESS WHAT THE DATA MEANS OVER TIME. SMITH CREEK RANCH — IN TERMS OF THE BUILDING, THEY CAN HELP WITH THINGS, ADMINISTRATING VOLUNTEERS TO KNOW WHAT PEOPLE NEED TO DO. LAST BUT NOT LEAST, WE WOULD LIKE TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE WILD HORSE ADVOCACY GROUPS. WE WOULD NOT — WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE IF THEY WOULD LIKE TO HELP OUT. PART OF THIS WILL BE A COMMUNICATIONS PLAN. NEXT, PLEASE. SO, THE COMMUNICATIONS PLAN WILL BE FOR PROMOTING WEEKEND EVENTS TO CONSTRUCT INCLOSURE AND TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH ADDITIONAL PARTNERS BY UTILIZING THE FOLLOWING. WE’LL USE MEDIA RELEASES, SOCIAL MEDIA WEBSITES INVITING PEOPLE TO VOLUNTEER. WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A LOGO CONTEST THAT WILL BE ADVERTISED AND THE WINNING LOGO WILL BE DISPLAYED ON VOLUNTEER SHIRTS. AND IMITATIONS TO VOLUNTEERS WILL BE THOSE TO EXPRESS AN INTEREST IN THOSE PROGRAMS. OFFICIAL AID HAS EXPRESSED INTEREST IN HELPING OUT WITH WATER AND THINGS LIKE THAT. ONCE THE AGREEMENT IS SIGNED, WE WILL MOVE FORWARD ON THE COMMUNICATIONS PLAN. THE RECRUITMENT WILL BE ADVERTISED ON VOLUNTEER DOCTOR OF — VOLUNTEER.GOV. ANY QUESTIONS? GO AHEAD. >> WHAT KIND OF FENCE DO YOU ANTICIPATE USING? >> IT IS A STANDARD FOR DOC TO- WIRE, WILDLIFE FRIENDLY — STANDARD FOUR-WIRE, WILDLIFE FRIENDLY. IT WILL PROBABLY HAVE TO HAVE REINFORCED CORNERS. FENCING IS NOT MY FORTE. ONCE WE MOVE FORWARD, WE’LL LOOK AT WHAT KIND OF MATERIALS WE MIGHT NEED. PIPER WOULD BE GREAT, BUT IT WOULD — PIPELINE WOULD BE GREAT, BUT IT WOULD BEOUT — BE OUT OF TOUCH. THE LARGER PROJECT, ABOUT HALF OF THOUSE ACRES ARE TOO ENHANCED FOR LALE TROUSE — FOR SAGE GROUSE. THEY CAN JUMP OVER, THE DEER. >> YOU SAID IT IS FOR MOSS TO 5 MILES LONG — 4 MILES TO 5 MILES LONG. HOW LONG IS IT? >> YOU HAVE TO GO OUT A LITTLE FARTHER. WHEN SAGE GROUSE FLY INTO AN AREA, YOU DO NOT WANT THEM TO CRASH INTO THE FENCE. IF THEY GET CRUSHED BY PREDATORS, THEY LIKE THE EDGES OF THE MEADOWS, WHERE THERE IS A LITTLE BIT OF COVER. WE HAVE SOME CULTURAL CONCERNS. IT SEEMS LIKE THE WICKED OF THE FENCE WOULD PROBABLY BE HALF A MILE, SOMETHING LIKE THAT, OR LESS. >> DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY AREAS YOU’RE LYING TO PIPE WATER ACCESS OUT? — YOU ARE GOING TO PIPE WATER ACCESS OUT? ARE YOU GOING TO HAVE THREE TROUGHS FOR ACCESS IN ONE AREA OR SPREAD THEM OUT? >> WE WILL LOOK AT THAT. THERE IS A PERENNIAL CREEK. IT IS THE UPSTREAM SIDE. THERE IS PLENTY OF WATER RUNNING IN. BECAUSE OF THE DEGRADATION, THERE IS DOWN CUTTING. THERE IS MORE WATER RUNNING OF THE WAY THROUGH. IT RUNS THROUGH ON THE OTHER SIDE AND DOWN INTO A RESERVOIR. I WILL CONTINUE TO CONSULT PEOPLE THAT NO MORE THAN NINE AND SEE IF WE NEED — WE PROPOSED TO PUT IN A COUPLE OF DROPS AND PIPELINE OUTSIDE IF NEEDED FOR THE HORSES. >> THANK YOU. >> YOU ARE WELCOME. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ALRIGHT. THANK YOU A VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU. >> CONGRATULATIONS ON APPLYING AND GETTING THE MONEY. ED ALREADY MENTIONED A LONG-TERM HOLDING TOUR ON JUNE 9. I WILL MENTION THAT I UNDERSTAND WE ALREADY HAVE FOUR BUSLOADS OF PEOPLE THAT ARE COMING. IF YOU WANT TO COME, YOU BETTER GET YOUR NAME IN SOON. THE NEXT THING I WANT TO TELL YOU ABOUT IS THE SUCCESS — I HAD LITTLE TO DO WITH IT. U.S. UNDER WAY BY THE TIME I GOT HERE. BUT IT IS NOT TOTALLY DONE. IT IS DONE ENOUGH TO SHOW YOU TONIGHT. WHEN THIS MEETING IS OVER AT 5:30, I THINK WE ARE GOING TO SHOW YOU MOST OF THE NEW DOCUMENTARY ON THE WILD HORSE & BURRO PROGRAM THAT WAS PRODUCED BY THE BLM. ISOTOPE — I HOPE YOU’LL STAY FOR THAT. IT IS PRETTY EXCITING. OTHER DEVELOPMENTS WE ARE WORKING ON — WE’RE WORKING ON A NEW AGREEMENT WITH THE — HAVING A GOOD CONSULTATION WITH THEM ABOUT MANY THINGS. THE SAME FOR THE MUSTANG HERITAGE FOUNDATION. THEIR AGREEMENT WITH US RUNS OUT THIS YEAR. IT WILL BE A COMPETED PROCESS. WE ARE HOPEFUL TO CONTINUE THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH ENTITIES LIKE THAT — OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH ENTITIES LIKE THAT. YOU’LL HEAR MORE ABOUT THIS TOMORROW AS WELL, BUT WE ARE LOOKING AT NEW AGREEMENTS AND PROCESSES FOR THE TWO KINDS OF ECO SANCTUARIES THAT WERE ANNOUNCED ABOUT A MONTH AGO. THE PRIVATE-PUBLIC ECO SANCTUARY IN NEVADA, WHICH JUST GOT STARTED LAST WEEK IN TERMS OF GOING FORWARD. WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT THOSE TWO PROCESSES HAPPENING AND WHAT MAY COME FROM THOSE. ON THE REPORT TO CONGRESS, I KNOW THERE WAS INTEREST IN KNOWING WHERE WE ARE AT WITH THAT. IT IS NOT ON THE AGENDA. I CAN COVER IT. YOU WERE BRIEFED ON THIS AT THE LAST MEETING VERY THOROUGHLY. THIS IS, BY THE WAY, WHAT I HAVE REALIZED SINCE THAT MEETING IS THAT IT IS REALLY TWO REPORTS IN ONE. IT IS FROM FIVE YEARS AND A PROGRAM STRATEGY FOR 2012 TO 2014. IT HAS GONE THROUGH A LOT OF STEPS. THE NEXT COUPLE GO BACK TO THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR, THE DIRECTOR ASSISTANT SECRETARY, AND WHETHER THE SECRETARY OF INTERIOR WANTS TO SEE IT OR NOT, WE DO NOT KNOW, BUT THEN IT WILL BE READY TO BE PUBLISHED AND GIVEN TO CONGRESS. WE ARE VERY EXCITED. I WILL REMIND YOU OF THE SEVEN MAJOR COMPONENTS, MANY OF WHICH YOU WILL BE BRIEFED ON. WE’RE NOT WAITING FOR TO BE PUT IN PRINT. WE ARE DOING MANY ELEMENTS OF THE PROGRAM STRATEGY. THE FIRST ONE WAS SUSTAINABLE HERDS. WE TALK ABOUT INCREASING THE USE OF FERTILITY CONTROL ALONG WITH REMOVAL TO ATTEMPT TO GET TO AML BECOME ESPECIALLY ON THE LONG TERM. INCREASING SCIENCE AND RESEARCH. THE EGO SANCTUARY CONCEPT, THE INCREASED ANIMAL WELFARE PROGRAM — THE EAST COAST AND NEW THE ECO SANCTUARY CONCEPT, THE INCREASED ANIMAL WELFARE PROGRAM. ECOTOURISM. IT IS THE ONE THAT I THINK NEEDS SOME THINKING ABOUT HOW WE CAN HELP COMMUNITIES LOOK AT DEVELOPING IT FOR THEMSELVES, HOW THAT COULD WORK. I HAVE GOTTEN SOME IDEAS FROM PROPOSALS OF VARIOUS PEOPLE. THAT MIGHT BE A PLACE WHERE WE COULD USE YOUR EXPERTISE, PARTICULARLY, IS CAPITALIZING AND MOVING ON THAT. THE OTHER PIECE, WHICH MAY SOUND MINOR TO YOU OR BUREAUCRATIC, BUT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO US, IS THAT WE ARE NOW MEETING EVERY MONTH WITH THE DIRECTOR. IT GIVES US A CHANCE TO KEEP HIM APPRISED OF EVERYTHING. IT IS A REALLY GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A GOOD SIT DOWN WITH THE DIRECTOR AND GET HIS THOUGHTS AND FEEDBACK AND APPROVALS, ETC.. WE ARE VERY HAPPY ABOUT THAT. I WANT TO TELL YOU ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS WE’RE DOING INTERNALLY. AS I HAVE MENTIONED BEFORE, WE HAVE ESTABLISH WHAT I AM CALLING REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATION TEAMS. THESE ARE GROUPS OF PEOPLE, AGENCY PEOPLE, BLM, FOREST SERVICE, FISH AND WILDLIFE, WHO ARE LOOKING AT KIND OF COMPLICATED ISSUES. I HAVE ASKED THEM TO REVIEW THE ISSUE AND THEN PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS WITHIN A 90-DAY OR 120-DAY. . THERE ARE SEVERAL THAT I WANT TO MENTION. — 120-DAY PERIOD . THERE ARE SEVERAL THAT I WANT TO MENTION. WHEN IT THAN THAT LOOKS AT CONTRACTS — ONE OF THEM LOOKS AT CONTRACTS. THE RECOMMENDATIONS HAVE COME TO ME, BUT THEY ARE NOT THROUGH THE INTERNAL REVIEW YET. THAT TEAM HAS BEEN MEETING AND HAS DONE A GREAT JOB. THE ALTERNATIVE GATHERS METHOD REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATION TEAM IS THE NEXT ONE. WHAT OTHER WAYS ARE THERE THAT WE COULD LOOK AT GATHERING ANIMALS? WE HAVE THE BAIT TRAPPING NATIONAL SOLICITATION. THAT IS MARVELOUS. ARE THERE OTHER THINGS WE COULD LOOK AT? THAT IS ANOTHER GROUP OF PEOPLE. SOME OF THE IDEAS THAT GO INTO THESE TEAMS ARE IDEAS THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN US OR THAT THE PUBLIC HAS GIVEN US. I WANT SOME GROUPS TO LOOK AT THESE THINGS COMPREHENSIVELY. THE NEXT THING IS THE COMPREHENSIVE ANIMAL WELFARE TEAM. ADOPTIONS AND SALES, I MENTIONED THAT A LITTLE WHILE AGO. SALLY WILL HEAD UP WAS SOME OTHER FOLKS. IS OUR ADOPTION SYSTEM MEETING THE NEEDS OF TODAY? IS IT SUFFICIENT TO HELP INCREASE NUMBERS? WHAT ELSE CAN WE BE DOING? THE LAST ONE IS IN THE GERMINATING STAGES. IT IS CALLED TRAINING AND KNOWLEDGE RETENTION. WHAT KIND OF FORMAL TRAINING TO WE HAVE IN PLACE? WE DO HAVE SOME WITHIN OUR TRAINING SYSTEM. WHAT ADDITIONAL TRAIN DO WE WANT. WHAT CURRICULUM DO WE NEED TO UPDATE. AS YOU KNOW, IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE BABY BOOMERS. A LOT OF KNOWLEDGE IS GOING TO WALK OUT THE DOOR WHEN THAT HAPPENS. WE WANT TO KEEP THAT KNOWLEDGE. HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THAT THE EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE THAT HAS BEEN BUILT UP OVER THE LAST 30 YEARS IS NOT JUST GONE WHEN THESE FOLKS RETIRE? WE’RE DOING TWO TEAM LEADERS. WE STARTED OUT WITH ONE AND REALIZE IT IS A HECK OF A LOAD FOR ONE PERSON — REALIZED IT IS A HECK OF A LOAD FOR ONE PERSON TO TRY TO MANAGE. KIND OF LIKE THE BOARD IS A REFLECTION OF THE DIVERSE OPINIONS OUT THERE, WE ARE TRYING TO LOAD THESE TEAMS WITH PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT PROGRAMS AND DIFFERENT LEVELS OF THE ORGANIZATIONS SO THAT WE CAN LOOK AT THESE THINGS FROM ALL ANGLES. IT IS NOT JUST SPECIALISTS . I WANT TO UPDATE YOU ON THE NEXT PIECE. JULY 1 IS WHEN THE NEXT HELICOPTER GATHERS ARE SUPPOSED TO BEGIN IN JACKSON MOUNTAIN, NEVADA. WE HAVE COMMITTED — EVERY YEAR, WE WANT TO LOOK AT OUR GUIDANCE, SOME OF WHICH EXPIRES AUTOMATICALLY IN THE FEDERAL GUIDANCE POLICY SYSTEM. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE IT IS AS GOOD AS IT CAN BE FOR WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED IN THE LAST YEAR. WE ARE GOING TO BE PUTTING TOGETHER — ALREADY ARE — GUIDANCE AND ALL THE ASPECTS ON HOW WE CONDUCT OPERATIONS FOREGATHERS — FOR GATHERS. IT IS THIS CONCEPT THAT I AM SEEKING, AS I MENTIONED TO YOU, A COUPLE OF EXTERNAL EXPERTS FROM THE BOARD, TO LOOK AT THE GUIDANCE AT SOME STAGE AND GIVE US YOUR THOUGHTS. WE WANT YOUR OPINION. I WOULD LIKE TO GET THAT BEFORE IT GOES IN THE FINAL. THAT WILL BE THE FAST TRACK. THERE WILL BE A PROCURACY THAT HAVE TO GO THROUGH. I HAVE TO GO UP THE CHAIN — THERE IS A BUREAUCRACY THAT IT HAS TO GO THROUGH. I HAVE TO GO UP THE CHAIN. IT IS A LOT OF PEOPLE HELPING TO INPUT INTO THIS. I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST THAT WE HAVE A COUPLE OF FOLKS WHO CAN HELP US WITH THAT. FINALLY, FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, IN TERMS OF SUCCESSES, I AM MEETING WITH LOTS OF ORGANIZATIONS WHO WANT TO CHAT WITH ME. I WILL SPEAK AT A SYMPOSIUM IN AUGUST AT THE REQUEST OF THE HUMANE SOCIETY. I WILL GO ON TO — I AM GOING TO MORE GATHERS AND ADOPTIONS. I PLAN TO VISIT THE SCIENCE AND CONSERVATION CENTER IN MONTANA TO LEARN WHAT THAT IS ABOUT AND TO MEET THE DOCTOR IN PERSON. WE HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A COUPLE OF WEBINARS SETUP IN CONTENT — IN COOPERATION WITH THEM. A LOT OF BLM FOLKS HAVE BEEN ON THOSE WEBINARS. THE RESEARCH TEAM IS LOOKING AT UPDATING THEIR CHARTER TO INCLUDE OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES INVOLVED IN THE ADVISORY GROUP. FOREST SERVICES IS THE ONLY OTHER AGENCY INVOLVED IN THE ACT. THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, FOR EXAMPLE, THEY HAVE WILD HORSES ON SOME OF THEIR LAND AND THEY MAY BE LEARNING THINGS, DOING THINGS, DOING RESEARCH THAT CAN HELP US. WE ARE LOOKING AT HOW WE CAN GET SOME OF THAT EXPERTISE. GENERALLY, I AM GETTING TO KNOW PEOPLE WHO ARE FROM ALL SIDES OF THIS ISSUE, WHICH IS IMPORTANT FOR ME TO UNDERSTAND THE IDEAS — THE AREAS WE AGREE UPON AND THE AREAS WHERE WE DO NOT. IF YOU CANNOT AGREE ON THAT, HOW CAN WE MOVE FORWARD? I WANT TO NOW GO INTO SOME CHALLENGES THAT I SEE FOR US. YOU WILL HEAR MORE ABOUT THEM FROM THE ACTUAL PRESENTATIONS. ONE THING I AM PROBABLY FEELING IS THAT WE GET IN THE NUMBER FOR THE POPULATION ESTIMATES EFFECTIVE FEBRUARY 28, 2012. THAT IS THE FINAL DATE THAT WE SAY ALL OF THE DATA IS IN AND THAT IS THE NUMBER WE USE FOR THE NEXT YEAR. THE NUMBER IS APPROXIMATELY 37,000, WHICH IS GOOD NEWS BECAUSE IT IS LESS THAN THE NUMBER FROM LAST YEAR, WHICH WAS 38,500. I SAY THE WORD APPROXIMATELY BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH WE ARE USING THIS NEW CENSUS METHOD AS RECOMMENDED TO US BY USGS THAT WE THINK AS MORE RELIABILITY, AS SOMEONE POINTED OUT, YOU CAN ONLY COUNT WHAT YOU CAN FIND. WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT YOU ARE NOT CONFINED THEM ALL. — NOT GOING TO FIND THEM ALL. IT IS GOOD NEWS THAT IT IS DOWN BUT BAD NEWS THAT WE ARE OVER THE CARRYING CAPACITY OF THE LAND. WE HAVE ASKED THE FIELD IF THEY CAN LOOK AT CURRENT CONDITIONS AND THE DECISIONS — AND IF THE DECISIONS THAT WERE MADE ARE STILL THE RIGHT DECISIONS. SOME ARE VASTLY OVER AML. THERE IS STILL THE NEED TO REMOVE THEM TO PROTECT THE RANGE. THE DROUGHT CONDITIONS ARE A BIG CONCERN. ADOPTIONS ARE STILL DOWN. LONG-TERM HOLDING SPACE, WE ARE HAVING A CHALLENGE GETTING ENOUGH OF IT. IF IT RUNS OUT, IT BECOMES A PROBLEM. WHERE DO YOU PUT THESE ANIMALS? AND THE SHORT-TERM HOLDING SPACE IS EXPENSIVE BECAUSE GAS AND HAY IS RISING. WE CANNOT AFFORD TO HAVE THE COSTS RISE MORE ON THIS BUDGET. WE ONLY HAVE SO MUCH MONEY. THAT IS WHERE THIS ECO TOURISM IDEA, WE WANT TO GET YOUR THOUGHTS ON SOME OF THOSE THINGS. TO ADDRESS THESE CHALLENGES, I WILL SAY THAT I REALLY THINK A LOT OF THIS IS ABOUT FINDING COMMON GROUND WITH PEOPLE YOU DO NOT THINK YOU HAVE IT WITH. THERE ARE MANY GROUPS THAT WILL NEVER AGREE THAT WE SHOULD GATHER AND OTHER GROUPS THAT WE — THAT THINK WE ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO DO THAT. THERE ARE SOME GROUPS THAT LOVE THE IDEA OF AN EGO SANCTUARY AND SOME GROUPS DO NOT LIKE THE IDEA FOR DIFFERENT REASONS. SOME GROUPS THINK THAT THE FULL RANGE OF WHAT THE ACT ALLOWS, WE SHOULD DO. SOME GROUPS OPPOSE THAT. SOME GROUPS THINKS THAT WILD HORSES AND BURROS OPPOSE THE DEVELOPMENT OF ANY TOOLS OF OURS, VIEWING THEM AS OPPRESSION OR MANAGEMENT. THERE IS NO WAY YOU CAN HAVE ECOLOGICAL INTEGRITY IF YOU WERE TO ALLOW THAT. THAT IS WHAT THE ACT CALLS FOR, TO MANAGE THESE ANIMALS TO SUSTAIN THAT HE DID — THAT ECONOMICAL — THE ECOLOGICAL INTEGRITY OF THIS LAND. I APPRECIATE PEOPLE WALKING TO WORK WITH US AS PARTNERS AND COMING FORWARD WITH THAT TYPE OF HONEST ATTITUDE. WE REALLY DO WANT TO HELP WILD HORSES AND BURROS. NO MATTER WHAT FOLKS MIGHT SAY ABOUT US, THE TRUTH IS THAT BLM FOLKS ARE DOING THEIR BEST TO FIND THE PATHWAY TO WORK WITH. WE CARE ABOUT THESE ANIMALS DEEPLY AND ALWAYS HAVE. PART OF IT IS UNDERSTANDING THAT THE PUBLIC WANTS TO KNOW MORE AND UNDERSTAND MORE. IT IS PART OF OUR CHALLENGE. TOO MANY OF A CHARISMATIC ANIMALS. SOME THINK IT IS WHILE LIFE, SOME THINK IT IS LIVESTOCK, SOME THINK IT IS A PEST. YOU HAVE TO CONSIDER THAT IT IS VIEWED IN MANY DIFFERENT WAYS. THAT IS PART OF OUR CHALLENGE. I APPRECIATE YOU BEING ONE OF THE PRIMARY MECHANISM SWEAR RATIONAL THINKING, CONSULTATION, LISTENING TO EACH OTHER, FINDING THE COMMON GROUND, WILL HELP US NAVIGATE THE WAY FORWARD. I APPRECIATE YOU DOING THAT WITH US TODAY AND TOMORROW. FOR VOLUNTEERING TO DO IT, THANK YOU AGAIN. UNLESS THERE ARE QUESTIONS, WE ARE READY TO MOVE INTO THE PO WEEP — POWERPOINT UPDATE. >> [QUESTION INAUDIBLE] >> THAT IS ON THE AGENDA FOR TOMORROW AFTERNOON. ANYONE ELSE? THE POWER POINT? >> IS RIGHT THERE. I AM STANDING IN FOR HOLLY BROOKS, WHO IS OUR ANALYSTS. I WILL BE WORKING FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES BEFORE WE MOVE ON. FOR THE AUDIENCE BENEFIT, WE HAVE A PIE CHART OF YEAR. THERE ARE THREE SEPARATE SLIDES. FOR THE BOARD’S INTEREST, UNDER TAB 5, THE SAME INFORMATION PRESENTING — PRESENTED IN THE SLIDE IS IN TABULAR FORM. I WILL LET YOU FIND THAT. THE SLIDE ON THE SCREEN IS THE UPPER PART OF YOUR BOOK IN CERTIFICATION. — BOOK INSERT. IT IS OUR SPENDING PLAN FOR 2012. IT IS $77 MILLION. IT IS BROKEN UP FOR THOSE NOT FAMILIAR WITH OUR PROCESS. THE WAY WE PLANNED TO SPEND MONEY AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR IS BROKEN INTO WHAT WE CALL PROGRAM ELEMENTS. THERE ARE 11 OF THEM. ALL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE. THE PIE CHART READ PORTION IT IS FOR HG, LETTERS THAT STAND FOR OUR ADOPTION PROGRAM. IN 2012, WE PLAN TO SPEND ABOUT 10% OF OUR BUDGET ON THAT ELEMENT, $8 MILLION. I WILL COVER THE BIG PIECES OF THE SPENDING PLAN IN 2012. HOLDING IS 58%. SHORT-TERM HOLDING, THE BIGGEST PIECE OF THE PIPE AT OVER $27 MILLION. 36% OF IT, ALONG WITH LONG-TERM HOLDING, WHICH IS 22%, NEARLY $17 MILLION. A FULL 58% OF OUR BUDGET IN 2012 IS PLANNED FOR FEEDING AND CARING FOR ANIMALS AND SHORT AND LONG-TERM HOLDING. THE OTHER, BIGGER PIECES OF THE PIPE WERE ADOPTIONS AT 10%, THE GATHER PORTION AT 11%, AND THE ADMINISTRATIVE PART THAT COVERS ALL OF OUR COMPUTERS, LAW ENFORCEMENT, WASHINGTON OFFICE WAGES, TRAVEL TO CONDUCT ADVISORY BOARD MEETINGS, TRAVEL FOR OUR TEAMS TO DO BUSINESS, THOSE ARE THESE PIECES OF THE PIPE AT ABOUT 16% OF THE WHOLE. THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. THIS IS WHAT WE HAVE ACTUALLY SPENT AND THE PROGRESS TO DATE IN 2012. WE ARE RIGHT WHERE WE SHOULD BE, ABOUT HALF OF THE MONEY HAS BEEN SPENT. MORE MONEY TO OBLIGATE TO LONG- TERM HOLDING. WE ARE ON TRACK TO BE WITHIN BUDGET. WHAT I DID NOT MENTION IS, ALONG WITH EACH OF THESE PROGRAM ELEMENTS NOT REPRESENTED HERE, THERE ARE TARGETS FOR WHAT THE FIELD IS TO ACCOMPLISH. FOR EXAMPLE, HG, THE ADOPTION PART, THERE ARE TARGETS FOR NUMBERS OF ANIMALS TO BE ADOPTED. EACH OF THE STATE’S ADDED UP TO BE OUR NATIONAL TARGET. FOR 2012, IT IS ABOUT 4200 ANIMALS TO BE ADOPTED. THE QUESTIONS THAT YOU ALWAYS ASK, HOW MUCH MONEY IS OBLIGATED TO THE MUSTANG HERITAGE FOUNDATION ASSISTANCE AGREEMENT THIS YEAR? I MENTIONED THAT WE GOT $7.7 MILLION TOWARDS ADOPTIONS, UP $3.75 MILLION OF THAT IS TO THE MUSTANG HERITAGE FOUNDATION AND ALL OF THEIR PROGRAMS. THEY ALWAYS ASK ABOUT RESEARCH. IN 2012, WE HAVE $600,000 GOING TO RESEARCH. 250,000 OF THAT IS TO THE SPAYBACK PROJECT. RESEARCH AND TRIALS, TO THE STUDY YOU VISITED THIS MORNING, THERE IS ABOUT $100,000 GOING TO THAT. WE HAVE SET ASIDE $250,000 FOR A COUPLE OF NEW RESEARCH ENDEAVORS WE WOULD LIKE TO TAKE ON THIS YEAR WHICH I WILL TELL YOU ABOUT IN THE RESEARCH UPDATE. THAT IS THE 2012 BUDGET SUMMARY. I WILL REVIEW WHAT WE HAVE IN THE PRESIDENT’S BUDGET FOR 2013. FIRST, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR 2012? >> I HAVE A QUESTION. IS THERE ANY RESEARCH THAT IS PART OF THIS — RANGE IMPROVEMENTS THAT ARE PART OF THIS BUDGET? >> THERE ARE A FEW. WE HAVE HAD SOME IN OREGON, BUT NOT THAT MANY. THEY WOULD COME THROUGH IN TWO ELEMENTS THAT ARE NOT ACTUALLY HEAR. I GUESS IF THERE ARE NONE LISTED, THERE ARE NONE PLANNED EXCEPT THOSE LISTED THROUGH VOLUNTEER PROJECTS THAT YOU HAVE HEARD EARLIER TODAY. >> THANK YOU. >> DOES NOT MEAN THERE ARE NOT OTHER RANGE IMPROVEMENTS THAT ARE GOING ON. THERE ARE MANY. MAINTENANCE AND DEVELOPMENT OF WATER PROJECTS THROUGH THE RANGE PROGRAM FOR LIVESTOCK USE, HORSES CERTAINLY BENEFIT FROM THOSE. ALL KINDS OF PROJECTS ON THE RANGE OF MANAGEMENT THAT BENEFIT HORSES AND BURROS. NOT SPECIFICALLY FUNDED BY OUR PROGRAM, MORE FUNDED BY RANGELAND MANAGEMENT FUNDING. AND COLLECTED FROM GRAZING RECEIPTS AND ALL OF THAT THAT SOME OF YOU ARE MORE FAMILIAR WITH THAN OTHERS. MORE QUESTIONS ON 2012. >> TO GO ALONG WITH THAT, WHEN I AM LOOKING AT THE MANAGEMENT AREAS, THE RANGE MONITORING ITSELF, THEY ARE OUT DOING MONITORING IN GENERAL. IS THAT BEING CHARGED TO THIS PROGRAM OR IS THAT CHARGED TO THE OFFICE IN GENERAL? >> GOOD QUESTION. SOME OF BOTH. THE HORSE MONEY GOES TO FORCE BUDGETS AND — TO HORSE BUDGETS AND THERE IS A LARGE PORTION FOR MONITORING GRAZING. THERE IS LOTS OF MONITORING BEING DONE. HOPEFULLY, THOSE COMPONENTS ARE BEING COLLATED TOGETHER AND BEING CONSIDERED AS ONE SET OF DATA. THERE IS OTHER MONITORING, A SEGMENT CALLED CENSUS OR POPULATION SURVEY, THAT IS NOT INCLUDED. MP REFERS SPECIFICALLY TO VEGETATION MONITORING. AND MONITORING OF COURSE HEALTH AS WELL. — OF HORSE HEALTH AS WELL. I’M GOING TO MOVE ON TO THE 2013 PRESIDENT’S BUDGET. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. OUR PROJECTED BUDGET PROPOSED TO CONGRESS IS ABOUT $77 MILLION. IT PRETTY MUCH MIRRORS THE 2012 BUDGET WITH THE EXCEPTION OF $2 MILLION ADDITIONAL PROPOSED FOR RESEARCH, WILD HORSE AND BURRO IS RESEARCH. — AND BURRO RESEARCH. OK. THE PIECES OF THE PIE FOR THE PUBLIC THAT I REVIEWED FOR 2012, THEY ARE ALL ABOUT THE SAME IN PROPORTION FOR 2013. 57% PROJECTED TO PAY FOR HOLDING COSTS. GATHER AND REMOVAL IS LESS BY SEVERAL MILLION DOLLARS IN 2013. MORE FOCUS ON POPULATION, OUTGROWTHS SUPPRESSION IS ABOUT THE SAME AS IN 2012. I SAID MORE, BUT ABOUT THE SAME. NOT TOO MUCH NEW FOR WHAT IS PROJECTED FOR 2013, EXCEPT FOR AN ADDED $2 MILLION FOR RESEARCH. THE RESEARCH MONEY WOULD PROBABLY BE SPENT BY REQUESTING PROPOSALS THAT ARE NEW ALONG THE POPULATION GROWTH SUPPRESSION LINES AND THAT WOULD ALSO RESPOND TO ANY RECOMMENDATIONS THAT THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES, WITH. YOU LOOK LIKE YOU WANT TO ASK A QUESTION. >> IS IT THAT OBVIOUS? MY CONCERN WAS I HAD A QUESTION OUTLINED ON THE PRINTED FORM THAT CAME IN OUR BOOKS AS OPPOSED TO THE PIE CHART IN POPULATION GROWTH SUPPRESSION APPLICATIONS. IN THAT ONE, A DRAMATIC DROP FROM 500,000 TO 75,000. FOR THE PIE CHART, VERY SIMILAR FROM 2012 TO TO 2013. WOULD THAT THE THE COST OF ANY PHARMACEUTICALS THEMSELVES? >> I AM NOT SURE EXACTLY WHAT YOU’RE LOOKING AT. >> KG. >> THAT IS A NEW PROGRAM ELEMENT WHICH REFERS TO THE COST TO GATHER ANIMALS FOR POPULATION GROWTH SUPPRESSION TREATMENT. IT DOES NOT INCLUDE DRUGS. >> I THINK THAT WOULD BE KF. >> YOU ARE CORRECT. SO ANIMALS TREATED. KG, THAT IS $567,000. >> IT GOES DOWN ON YOUR CHART, ON YOUR LISTING NUMERICALLY, IT SAYS IT IS DOWN TO $175,000. LOOKING AT YOUR PIE CHART, IT IS AT $500,000 FOR BOTH YEARS. >> WHERE DO YOU SEE THE $175,000 FIGURE? >> ON THE SECOND CHART FOR 2013. >> I THINK HOLLY HAS SPLIT THOSE OUT DIFFERENTLY, IS WHAT IT APPEARS TO ME. THERE IS NOT A REDUCTION IN FUNDING. I THINK IT MAY HAVE TO DO WITH WHERE THE COST OF THE DRUGS ARE PUT. I’M SORRY. I AM A LITTLE CONFUSED ABOUT HOW SHE HAS PRESENTED THIS. I AM NOT SURE I CAN ANSWER YOUR QUESTION. >> WE CAN ASSUME THAT THE PIE CHART IS MORE REFLECTIVE OF WHAT IS GOING ON. >> YES. >> HAS THERE BEEN AN INCREASE IN THE COST OF THE DRUGS? >> OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, YES FOR PZB22, THAT WE ARE CURRENTLY USING, THE COST OF MANUFACTURING IS $310 PER DOSE. IT USED TO BE AROUND $240. BUT IT IS $310 AT THIS POINT IN TIME. THAT IS ONLY THE COST OF CAPTURE, NOT THE COST OF LABOR OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. >> I HAVE SOME NOTES BELOW THE 200 FIGURE AND A NOTE ABOVE THE 310. THIS ONE HAS $410,000 FOR 1000 DOSES. THAT IS 410 DOSES. >> INCLUDED IS THE — INCLUDED IN THAT IS THE RESEARCH FROM THE STUDY THAT WE VISITED THIS MORNING. THERE ARE SEVERAL THINGS BLENDED INTO THAT $410,000. I KNOW IT IS CONFUSING. >> I WAS CURIOUS BECAUSE I KNEW THAT THE VACCINE WAS LESS THAN THAT. >> $310 PER DOSE. AROUND $20 PER DOSE FOR THE ONE THAT WAS JUST REGISTERED WITH THE EPA. >> WHAT WAS THAT AMOUNT AGAIN? >> IT IS THE 1-YEAR VACCINE, ABOUT $20-25 PER DOSE. I CAN VERIFY THE EXACT COST. I AM AFRAID I HAVE USED UP ALL OF MY TIME. >> I’M GOING TO TAKE A LIBERTY RIGHT HERE. THAT ONE-YEAR, DID YOU JUST SAY THAT AT ONE-YOUR PREPARATION, HOW MANY YEARS HAVE WE BEEN STUDYING THAT? >> THE ONE YEAR VACCINE? >> IT HAS BEEN AROUND A LONG TIME AND IT WAS JUST NOW REGISTERED FOR THE EPA. >> THEREIN LIES A LOT OF FRUSTRATION. HERE IS THE DRUG THAT WE KNOW HAS NO APPLICABLE VALUE FOR OUR NEEDS CURRENTLY. IT IS JUST BEING REGISTERED AND IT HAS BEEN AROUND FOR A LONG TIME. I THINK THAT THE AGENCY IS MOVING TOWARDS CONTROL AS OPPOSED TO GATHERS AND REMOVAL. >> THAT IS CORRECT. MUCH MORE EMPHASIS ON THAT. IT IS THE WAY OF THE FUTURE. >> I AGREE WITH THAT AND IT IS FINED. MY POINT BEING, THE FRUSTRATION THAT WE ARE JUST NOW SEEING REGISTRATION OF A PRODUCT THAT HAS BEEN AROUND FOR A LONG TIME AND IS NOT APPLICABLE FOR OUR NEEDS. >> TAKES A LONG TIME. NOT NEARLY AS RIGOROUS OF DRUGS FOR HUMANS, BUT STILL LENGTHY. ARE WE READY TO MOVE ON TO PROGRAM UPDATES? >> YES, WE ARE. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> ARE WE TAKING A BREAK OR ARE WE STILL GOING? OK, GREAT. >> CAN YOU GET THE GATHERS SLIDE UP PLEASE? PRETTY SIMPLE. FOR 2012, THE WINTER GATHERS, IT SAYS COMPLETED, BUT THAT IS FOR THE ACTUALS WE HAVE DONE, 7837 AS FAR AS IT GATHERED AND 5873 WERE REMOVED. THERE WERE 883 MARES THAT RETREATED DURING WINTER. THE PROPOSED FOR THIS SUMMER IS 2549 AND 2509 REMOVED. ON THIS PROPOSED GATHERS THAT WE HAVE, PART OF THOSE ARE PART OF THE SERVICE. WE TALKED ABOUT HAVING A PER CAPITA OF 7600 FOR THE YEAR OF 2012. THAT WILL BE — BLM WILL BE DOING THAT UNLESS WE HAVE SOME EMERGENCY GATHERS. AT THIS POINT, BOROUGHS ARE PART OF IT BUT SERVICE FORCES ARE NOT CONSIDERED PART OF IT. WHEN IT IS ADDED UP, IT LOOKS LIKE WE’RE DOING A LOT MORE. NEXT SLIDE. FOR FY2013, AGAIN CAUGHT IT IS 8504 THAT WILL BE GATHERED AND 7017 WILL BE REMOVED. THE TOTAL NUMBER OF MAYORS TREATED AT THIS TIME — MARES TREATED AT THIS TIME IS 658. WE ARE LOOKING AT RELEASING MALE HORSES WHETHER OR NOT THERE IS A LAWSUIT THAT COMES OUT. BUT IT IS THE NUMBER OF MALE HORSES OVER AND ABOVE THE NUMBER OF FEMALE HORSES THAT ARE RELEASED. THE TOTAL NUMBER OF ANIMALS TREATED WAS 838. PART OF THIS IS THAT WE ARE NOT DOING AS MANY GATHERS IN THE FALL. WHICH IS THE OPTIMUM TIME. WE ARE DOING IT IN THE SUMMER. ONE OF THE REASONS FOR THAT IS BASE ISSUES THAT WE WILL TALK TO YOU ABOUT. THE FACT THAT IT COSTS A LOT MORE MONEY TO HOLD HORSES FOR THE FULL YEAR PURSES HALF A YEAR. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> ALRIGHT, I THINK WE’RE GOING TO TAKE A BREAK. . . >> LET’S GO AHEAD AND TAKE OUR SEATS IF WE COULD AND WE’LL GET STARTED. OK. BEFORE WE GO ON WITH OUR UPDATES WE’VE GOT A COUPLE QUESTIONS THAT HAVE COME UP SINCE THE BREAK. LILY? JOHN FALLON, WHY DON’T YOU COME SIT DOWN? >> YES, SIR, MR. CHAIRMAN? >> WE HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS IN REGARDS TO GATHERS AND BAIT TRAPPING. >> SORRY FOR BEING A NEWSPAPERY, I’M A LITTLE OUT OF ORDER. I — A NEWBIE, I AIM A LITTLE OUT OF ORDER. BUT DO YOU HAVE REPORTS OF BAIT TRAPPING OR HORSES EASIER THAN BURROS, DOES IT MAKE A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO? JUST CURIOUS INFORMATION. >> ASIDE FROM THE GIGGLES? PROPOSALS AREN’T DUE UNTIL MAY 1. THIS IS A WHOLE NEW AVENUE THAT WE’VE NEVER DONE BEFORE. I’M REALLY KIND OF EXCITED ABOUT IT. >> RIGHT. BUT ON SOME OF THESE, LIKE ARIZONA, THERE WAS — >> THESE ARE ALL DONE WITH EITHER IN-HOUSE GATHERS WHICH WE’VE ALWAYS DONE, ALL THE BAIT TRAPPING YOU’RE SEEING ON THERE IS EITHER DONE IN-HOUSE OR IT’S BEING DONE BY LOCAL DISTRICT CONTRACTS WHICH IS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE WENT FOR THE NATIONAL CONTRACT, KIND OF GAVE US THE IDEA OF HOW WELL IT WORKS IN SOME OF THE AREAS BETTER THAN OTHERS. BURROS ARE DIFFERENT AS FAR AS BAIT TRAPPING BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE THE MONSOONS DON’T COME IN BECAUSE ONCE THEY DO — OR IF THERE’S AN EXTRA RAIN SPOT HERE OR THERE, THEY JUST SCATTER. BURROS DON’T STAY IN HERDS LIKE HORSES DO, SO THEY ARE VERY SOLITARY MORE SO AS FAR AS THEIR HABITATS. SOME OF THEM COME TOGETHER BUT MOSTLY IT’S WHEN THERE IS A LITTLE BIT MORE OR LESS WATER AND STUFF LIKE THAT. AND AS FAR AS ON THE HORSES, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT GOT US ON THIS OTHER WAS THAT WE HAVE THIS MERGE CREEK AND YOU LOOK ON THE GATHER SCHEDULE AND IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE MERGE CREEK ALL THE TIME BUT MERGE CREEK IS A VERY TIMBERED AREA. SO WHEN WE’VE GONE IN THERE WITH HELICOPTER AND THE HORSES GET IN THE TREES AND GO HEY, GOOD. THEY DON’T MOVE. THEY’VE GONE IN WITH THEM BY HORSE BACK, THEY JUST RUN AROUND THE TREES AND THE GUYS GET HIT BY LIMBS AND THE ROPES DON’T WORK AND YOU CAN SEE THE DIFFICULTIES IN THAT RESPECT. BUT THERE’S A GENTLEMAN UP THERE THAT LIVES IN THE AREA THAT ACTUALLY HAS STUDIED THIS PARTICULAR GROUP OF HORSES, AND SO I DON’T KNOW, PROBABLY FOUR YEARS AGO, MAYBE, I’M NOT SURE EXACTLY, SO DON’T HOLD ME TO IT. ANYWAY, THEY HIRED HIM TO JUST DO THIS BAIT TRAPPING. SO WHAT HE DOES, BECAUSE BAIT TRAPPING IS A VERY SLOW, VERY LOW NUMBER OF HORSES, AS THEY SAID OK, COULD YOU GET US 40 HEAD OF HORSES IN A YEAR? BUT TOTALLY DIFFERENT THAN THIS OTHER, SO WHAT HE DOES IS HE GOES OUT TO AREAS WHERE HE KNOWS THE HORSES ARE, VERY DIFFERENT PERIODS OF TIME, HE MAINLY USES FOOD-TYPE BAITS. SOME OF IT IS HAY OR SWEET LICKS AND SOME OF IT DIFFERENT THINGS HE’S WORKED WITH. BUT HE BUILDS THE TRAP AND MAY TAKE HIM TWO OR THREE MONTHS TO BUILD THE TRAP SO HORSES GET USED TO GOING IN AND GOING OUT. HE MAY PUT THE BAIT IN AND LEAVE IT FOR A MONTH AND THEN TRAP A FEW HORSES AND TAKE THEM TO BARNS AND THEN DO IT AGAIN. THIS YEAR, AS YOU CAN SEE ON THE GATHER SCHEDULE, WE ACTUALLY — HE DID 83 HORSES >> YEAH, I SAW THAT. IT GOES IN AND OUT. THAT H.M.A. IS MENTIONED SEVERAL TIMES ON THERE. >> THAT WILL BE SOMETHING THAT PROBABLY — I’M NOT SURE HOW I’M GOING TO WORK THE GATHER SCHEDULE WITH PUTTING THE BAIT TRAPPING IN OR WHETHER I’M GOING TO SAY IT STARTS THIS TIME, WHICH WE’VE DONE. YOU’LL SEE THAT ON SOME OF THE BURRO ONES BECAUSE THEY KIND OF GO IN THERE AND SAY THEY START OCTOBER 1 AND END SEPTEMBER 30 AND THE REASON IS BECAUSE WE DON’T KNOW WHEN THEY’RE GOING TO ACTUALLY — THEY’RE JUST GOING TO BE DOING IT ALL YEAR-ROUND. >> VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. >> ANY MORE QUESTIONS FOR LILY? WHILE WE HAVE HER BAIT-TRAPPED? >> ONE QUICK QUESTION. SO ON THOSE — THE NATIONAL CONTRACT, AND I HAVEN’T LOOKED AT IT THAT CLOSE. SO IS THAT LIKE FOR A CONTRACTOR TO COVER MULTIPLE STATES OR CAN THEY BE VERY LOCALIZED? >> THERE’S A SLIDE ON THERE IF YOU ALL WANT TO PUT IT ON. IT SHOWS — I THINK IT’S IN YOUR BOOK TWO, I’M NOT SURE BUT IT SHOWS ZONE AND THIS IS A REALLY NEW THING FOR US. IT MAY FALL FLAT ON ITS FACE BUT ANYWAY, WE HAVE SIX ZONES THAT COVER EVERY HORSE SERVICE TERRITORY AND EVERY WILD HORSE AND BURRO HERD. SO WHAT WE’VE DONE IS WE’VE ASKED PEOPLE TO BID BY ZONE . SO IF YOU ARE A CONTRACTOR AND LIVED OVER IN THE UTAH AREA, YOU MAY BID ON ONE ZONE BECAUSE YOU WANT TO BE LOCAL BUT IN MERGER CREEK WHICH IS IN OREGON, WHICH IS ZONE 1, YOU MAY BID ON THAT BUT IF YOU WANTED YOU COULD BID ON ZONE 1, 2, 3 OR 4, 5 AND 6, WHICHEVER ZONES YOU KNOW THE AREA, YOU MAY ACCESS THE AREA WITH A LITTLE MOBILITY AS FAR AS MOBILIZING AND GOING BACK AND FORTH BECAUSE IT’S TIME CONSUMING BUT IT’S TIME CONSUMING ON A LONG PERIOD AS FAR AS, YOU KNOW, YOU MAY GO THERE EVERY OTHER MONTH OR WEEK, DEPENDING ON HOW YOU’RE WORKING IT AND YOU’VE GOT TO KNOW THE AREA. SO WE’RE LOOKING AT — WE DID A NEEDS ASSESSMENT ON THIS, WORKING WITH THE FOREST SERVICE AND B.L.M. PEOPLE IS WE FOUND OUT WE COULD PROBABLY UTILIZE 17 CONTRACTORS. SO IT’S NOT — THEY’RE SMALL. WE’RE TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, A GUY THAT WANTS TO DO THIS, AS HE’S SHOING HORSES ON THE SIDE. WE’RE NOT TALKING ABOUT A BIG CONGLOMERATE TYPE THING. WE’RE TALKING ABOUT SMALL — THAT KNOW THE AREA THAT WANT TO DO IT THIS WAY. THAT THINK IT’S FUN, YOU KNOW, ARE RETIRED, HAS WORKED WITH HORSES. ALL KINDS OF DIFFERENT COMBINATIONS. WE DON’T KNOW WHAT’S GOING TO COME OUT OF THAT UNTIL ACTUALLY IT HAPPENS. GOT A LOT OF DIFFERENT CALLS FROM A LOT OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE. IT SHOULD BE KIND OF INTERESTING. THEN EACH TIME THAT WE HAVE A — THIS IS ALSO VERY DIFFERENT. THEY WILL BE AWARDED ON THEIR TECHNICAL ABILITY. THEIR ABILITIES TO SHOW THEY KNOW HOW TO BAIT TRAP. THEN EVERY TIME THAT WE HAVE A MERGERS CREEK AND PUT OUT A TASK ORDER AND EVERYONE THAT WAS WANTED IN ZONE 1 WILL HAVE TO REBID THAT SO THAT THERE WILL BE A COMPETITIVE BIDDING EVERY SINGLE TIME WE HAVE A TASK ORDER WHICH WE DONE DO AT THAT POINT. SO IT’S ALL GRAND NEW TO US. TO OTHER PEOPLE AS WELL. YOU TAKE IT WHERE YOU CAN. >> YOU FEEL THE COST — IT’S ALL BRAND-NEW AND YOU DON’T HAVE ANY REAL FEEL FOR THE COSTS TO GATHER, IN YOUR — JUST YOUR IMPRESSION, WILL IT BE SIGNIFICANTLY CHEAPER THAN THE HELICOPTER GATHERS WE SEE NOW? >> THAT’S APPLES AND ORANGES, LLOYD. >> I REALIZE THAT. I’M SAYING IF YOU LOOK AT AN OVERALL BUDGET AND WHAT IT COSTS TO BRING IN A HORSE — >> $1,000 A HEAD IS PROBABLY WHAT IS OUR GOVERNMENT ESTIMATE. SO IT’S A LOT MORE EXPENSIVE ONE WAY BUT YOU HAVE VERY LITTLE B.L.M. INVOLVEMENT. SO LIKE RIGHT NOW WHEN WE TALK ABOUT AS FAR AS — YOU CAN’T HAVE ON THESE BAIT TRAPPING, YOU CANNOT HAVE LARGE AMOUNT OF PUBLIC BECAUSE OF THE FACT IT DEFEATS THE PURPOSE OF THE HORSES COMING IN. SO, YOU KNOW, BASICALLY WE’RE LOOKING AT A SMALLER NUMBER OF GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT NEED TO BE THERE. AND YOU’RE TALKING ABOUT ONE, YOU KNOW, B.L.M. HORSE SPECIALIST CORE THAT WOULD BE THERE PART OF THE TIME. THIS IS, YOU KNOW, KIND OF THE TRICKY PART, WHEN THEY’RE GOING TO BE OUT THERE AND WHEN THEY’RE NOT. IT’S GOING TO BE VERY DISTRICT ORIENTED OR FIELD OFFICE ORIENTED BECAUSE IT’S GOT TO BE CLOSE TO THEM. SO RIGHT NOW WHAT WE HAVE BEEN TOLD AND WHAT — THE CONTRACTS WE’VE BEEN DOING IN NEW MEXICO WITH FOREST SERVICE AND THE OTHERS IS THAT THERE’S KIND OF A GOVERNMENT ESTIMATE OF ABOUT $1,000. THIS MAY ALSO ACTUALLY GO UP. BUT I’M HOPING BY DOING A TASK ORDER FOR EACH ONE, THE PERSON THAT LIVES CLOSER DOESN’T HAVE TO TRAVEL AS MUCH BUT THEIR COSTS WOULD BE LESS. YOU CAN GO DOWN. >> I THINK THIS IS A TOPIC WE’LL PROBABLY BE ASKING YOU TO REPORT ON AT THESE MEETINGS BECAUSE IT IS NEW AND PROMISING, IN MY MIND, AND WE’D LIKE TO HEAR ABOUT IT. >> I MEAN, THE THING ABOUT THIS IS IT’S NOT GOING TO TAKE OVER HELICOPTER GATHERS BUT WHAT IT DOES IS ALLOW US TO GO INTO AREAS WHERE WE’RE ZEROING OUT — WE’RE NOT ZEROING OUT BUT TRYING TO GET THE STRAGLER HORSES WE WANT TO DO TO GET DOWN TO A.M.L. BECAUSE THEY’RE IN THE TREES OR WHATEVER. AND SOME PEOPLE THINK IT POSSIBLY COULD BE USED FOR POPULATION SUPPRESSION DOWN NORTH. WE DON’T KNOW. >> THANK YOU, LILY. OK. WE CAN GO ON NOW WITH OUR UPDATE. >> YOU BET. I THINK NOW WE ARE TO B. WHERE ARE YOU, B? DID YOU GET PUT BACK IN THE COMPUTER? >> CAN YOU GUYS HEAR ME? >> THE FACILITY REPORT, OR THE FACILITY SUMMARY FROM APRIL 12 OF THIS MONTH. AS YOU CAN SEE, WE’VE GOT A BUNCH OF HORSES IN HOLDING, ALMOST 47,000 BETWEEN SHORT AND LONG-TERM. THERE’S 14,500 IN SHORT TERM WHICH THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT IS LIKE $5 AND SOMETHING A DAY. THEN THERE’S 32,400 IN LONG-TERM , WITH — THERE’S AN EXTRA — WE’VE BEEN FILLING THEM UP PRETTY FAST, THERE’S ABOUT 1,200 HEAD LEFT IN LONG-TERM HOLDING SO WE’RE SHIPPING THEM TO THE TUNE OF SIX TO EIGHT LOADS EVERY OTHER WEEK SO THEY’LL BE FILLED UP SOON. IF WE DON’T GET NEW LONG-TERM HOLDING, I DON’T KNOW WHAT WE’RE GOING TO DO. SO THAT’S THE SUMMARY. WE HAVE A CAPACITY FOR 51,000 BUT WE REALLY DON’T WANT TO REACH THAT. BUT WE DON’T HAVE A CHOICE. WE ALSO ARE STARTING TO STOCKPILE BURROS WHICH IS SOMETHING WE’VE NEVER HAD TO DO BEFORE BECAUSE THEY WERE READILY ADOPTABLE. THEY’RE NOT. THEY’RE NOT MOVING OUT. SO WE OPENED UP A NEW FACILITY IN UTAH LAST WEEK AND IT WILL HAVE 400 HEAD IN IT BY THE END OF NEXT WEEK. WE’RE TRYING TO MAKE ROOM FOR THE UPCOMING GATHERS IN THE SOUTH OF NEVADA. ANY QUESTIONS? NOT GOOD NEWS. SORRY. >> WHERE ARE WE IN THE CONTRACTING PROCESS, YOU KNOW, FOR LONG-TERM OR LONG-TERM PASTURES? >> YOU KEEP JUMPING AROUND ON OUR AGENDA HERE BUT THAT’S OK. LLOYD, CAN YOU ANSWER — LILY, CAN YOU ANSWER IT FROM THERE? >> YEAH. [NO AUDIO] [NO AUDIO] [NO AUDIO] >> THEN WE HAVE 120 E.A. PROCESS BEFORE WE CAN PUT ANY HORSES ON THEM. OK. NEXT SLIDE ON — THIS IS GOOD NEWS. WE ENDED ON GOOD NEWS. THIS IS THE END OF THE YEAR STATS FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS. GUYS, WE’VE BEEN TRYING REAL HARD TO MAKE THIS NUMBER GO DOWN AND WE WENT DOWN 1,200 HEAD THIS YEAR SO WE’RE CELEBRATING BIGTIME. WE WENT FROM 38-4 TO 38-5 AND THEN 37-3. WE GATHERED 8,800 HORSES BUT FINALLY WE SAW A DROP IN THE POPULATION. IN THE CENSUS METHOD ARE WORKING, I THINK, BUT WE’RE FINDING MORE HORSES AS WE’RE DOING IT WHICH IS NOT GOOD NEWS BUT WE NEED TO KNOW HOW MANY ARE OUT THERE, RIGHT? AND THESE ARE ESTIMATES, LIKE JOAN SAID, WE HAVEN’T A CLUE HOW MANY REALLY ARE OUT THERE BUT WHAT WE THINK ARE OUT THERE. >> THAT MAY HAVE BEEN TOO BROAD A STATEMENT. >> IT’S TRUE. WOULD YOU LIKE TO REPHRASE THAT? >> IF THIS NUMBER IS GOING TO GO ANYWHERE, IT’S GOING TO GO UP, NOT DOWN. THERE’S PROBABLY MORE OUT THERE THAN WE SEE. ANY QUESTIONS? >> YOU’RE NOT USING THE DIRECT COUNTS ANYMORE, THOUGH? THERE IS A VARIABLE LIKE SIGHTABILITY? >> THEY HAVE TWO METHODS, ONE OF THEM IS — THEY ACTUALLY HAVE THREE. THEY ARE STILL DOING DIRECT COUNTS IN SOME PLACES. THEY’RE DOING THE MARKED RECITE, THEY MARK THEM AND GO BACK WITH THE PHOTOS AND RECHECK THEM — I MEAN, COUNT THEM A SECOND TIME. AND THEN THEY’RE DOING — WHAT’S THE NAME OF THE OTHER METHOD? SIMULTANEOUS DOUBLE COUNT WHERE THEY ACTUALLY DO ADD THAT FUDGE FACTOR YOU’RE TALKING ABOUT. AND WE’RE DOING IT ON HOW MANY HERD? 90? >> 30. >> 30 NEW ONES THIS YEAR AND THEY’LL COMPARE IT TO WHAT WE HAD FROM LAST YEAR AND THESE NUMBERS HERE ARE COLLECTED AS OF FEBRUARY, LIKE JOAN SAID, SO WE ONLY HAVE THE FULL CROP FROM LAST YEAR. THIS FULL CROP FROM THIS YEAR IS NOT ON HERE YET. THAT WILL BE ON NEXT YEAR’S. SO ADD 20% TO THIS. OK. >> ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD? THANK YOU. >> SURE YOU DON’T WANT LILY TO COME BACK AGAIN AND KEEP HARASSING HER? THANKS. >> I THINK SALLY IS GETTING HER SLIDE UP FOR THE ADOPTION AND SALES UPDATE. >> WE’RE AT ADOPTION AND SALES. AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE SLIDE, I’VE DONE A COMPARISON OF THE 2011 RESULTS AND THE 2012 RESULTS. AND THEY BOTH ARE AS OF APRIL 12. SO IF YOU LOOK AND SEE, WE ARE — HAVE FEWER ADOPTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN — OR ANIMALS ADOPTED THIS YEAR IN 2012 THAN WE DID IN 2011. AND IT’S MOST NOTICEABLE IF YOU LOOK AT THE STATES THAT NORMALLY DO THE LARGER ADOPTIONS. YOU HAVE EASTERN STATES, THIS YEAR THEY ADOPTED 360 ANIMALS. LAST YEAR THEY ADOPTED 425. SO THAT’S A BIT OF A DIFFERENCE. ALSO, NEW MEXICO, THEY HAVEN’T ADOPTED AS MANY AS THEY DID LAST YEAR AT THIS SAME TIME. ONE THING THAT WE’RE DOING DIFFERENTLY THIS YEAR, THOUGH, IS THAT IT WAS MENTIONED THERE IS A TARGET FOR THE NUMBER OF ANIMALS TO BE ADOPTED. AND ACTUALLY, THAT TARGET IS 4,475. AND SO 2,475 ANIMALS WILL BE ADOPTED BY B.L.M., AND 2,000 WILL BE ADOPTED THROUGH THE MUSTANG HERITAGE FOUNDATION. AND SO FAR TO DATE AS OF APRIL 12, 610 ANIMALS HAVE BEEN ADOPTED BY THE B.L.M. AND 484 ANIMALS HAVE BEEN ADOPTED THROUGH THE MUSTANG HERITAGE FOUNDATION. SO THAT — WHAT THAT MEANS ARE THOSE ARE ANIMALS THAT ACTUALLY ARE ADOPTED, NOT ANIMALS IN THE PRISON TRAINING PROGRAM THAT ARE IN TRAINING AND THEN LIKE HOLLYWOOD WHO YOU SAW TODAY WHO IS PROMISED TO SOMEBODY, IS ACTUAL, COMPLETE ADOPTIONS. THAT’S THE SAME WITH THE MUSTANG HERITAGE FOUNDATION WITH THEIR TIP PROGRAM. THERE ARE A LOT MORE ANIMALS OUT BEING TRAINED BUT THE ADOPTION PAPERWORK HAS NOT BEEN COMPLETED YET SO WE DON’T COUNT IT UNTIL THE ADOPTION IS FINAL. I MEAN, THAT’S SOME OF THE THINGS WE’RE WORKING ON, THOUGH. EVERYTHING WE CAN TO TRY TO GET MORE ANIMALS MOVED. AND WE HAVE FOUND THE TRAINED ANIMALS DO ADOPT BETTER THAN THE UNTRAINED. BUT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE’RE LOOKING AT, THERE’S A LOT OF TALK ABOUT WOUNDED WARRIOR PROJECTS. AND SO ONE OF THE PROGRAMS THAT JOAN DID NOT MENTION IS WE HAVE ANOTHER DETAIL THAT WE THINK WE’RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO HAVE COME JOIN US. SHE’S WITH THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE. AND IF EVERYTHING WORKS OUT, SHE WILL BE HELPING TO COORDINATE GETTING MORE WOUNDED WARRIOR PROJECTS TO USE MUSTANGS TO HELP SET UP THINGS SO WE CAN USE THE ANIMALS FOR THERAPY. BUT THEN ALSO TO HELP SOME OF THE WOUNDED WARRIORS TO WORK WITH TRAINERS TO LEARN HOW TO TRAIN ANIMALS SO THEY CAN HAVE ANOTHER CAREER. SO THERE’S A LOT GOING ON AND HOPEFULLY THAT OF COURSE WILL GET GREAT P.R. AND HOPEFULLY WILL BE VERY SUCCESSFUL FOR EVERYBODY. WE’RE LOOKING AT THINGS LIKE THAT. I DID JUST GET SOME GOOD NEWS FROM THE MADISON EXTREME MUSTANG MAKEOVER EVENT. THAT HAPPENED THIS WEEKEND. AND THEY HAD 31 TRAINERS AND MUSTANGS THAT COMPETED. ALL 31 OF THE ANIMALS WERE ADOPTED. THE AVERAGE WAS THE AVERAGE WAS 4 $625. — WAS FOR $625. ANOTHER VERY EXCITING EVENT. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ADOPTION PORTION? >> AT THE LAST MEETING, THERE WAS AN ADOPTION INTERNAL REVIEW COMMITTEE TO LOOK AT THE WHOLE PROGRAM. HOW DID THAT GO? WAS THERE ANY FEEDBACK FROM THEM? THE OTHER QUESTION RELATING TO THAT IS ALSO THE MARKETING REPORT THAT WAS DONE BACK IN 2000 STILL HAS SOME REALLY GOOD, APPLICABLE COMPONENTS OF IT. DID THAT GET LOOKED AT BY THAT REVIEW TEAM? ADOPTION IS CLOSE TO MY HEART SINCE I AM AND A DOCTOR. I THINK IT IS STILL A VERY VIABLE PART OF BLM. >> I AGREE WITH YOU. IT IS ONE OF THE BEST PARTS OF THE PROGRAM. THAT IS ONE OF THE TEAMS THAT HAS NOT BEEN PULLED TOGETHER YET THAT WILL BE PULLED TOGETHER AND WILL LOOK AT THAT INFORMATION. IT WILL LOOK AT OTHER MARKETING IDEAS. THIS MIGHT BE A GOOD PLACE FOR AN EXTRA OIL EXPERT FROM THE ADVISORY BOARD TO ASSIST WITH THE TEAM. THAT WILL BE PULLED TOGETHER PROBABLY WITHIN THE NEXT MONTH. THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING YOU MIGHT WANT TO THINK ABOUT. IT IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PARTS, I THINK. THE BILL OF SALES, CAN WE BRING THE SLIDE BACK OUT. THANK YOU. SO FAR THIS YEAR, WE HAVE TOLD 219 ANIMALS. LAST YEAR, AT THIS SAME TIME, 460 ANIMALS WERE SOLD. SO SALES ARE DOWN. FROM THE LAST MEETING, WE DID LOOK AT THE BILL OF SALES. ALSO, THE SALES QUESTIONNAIRES. THERE WERE SOME CHANGES THAT WERE MADE AND THESE ARE NOW UP ON THE WEBSITE AND IN YOUR BOOK. ONE OF THE KEY THINGS THAT WAS CHANGED IS THAT WE ADDED ANOTHER FEW SENTENCES AT THE VERY BOTTOM. IT SAYS, “THIS SALE IS NULL AND VOID AND THE ANIMALS WILL REMAIN PROTECTED UNDER A LOT IF THE PURCHASER MAKES ANY MATERIAL MISREPRESENTATION IN THE APPLICABLE APPLICATION TO PURCHASE WILD HORSES AND PEROT — AND BURROS. INCLUDING REPRESENTATIONS’ ABOUT THE PURPOSES AND WERE USED FROM WHICH THE ANIMALS ARE — AND USE FOR WHICH THE ANIMALS ARE CONTAINED.” WE WORKED WITH THE OFFICE AND THEY SAID THIS INFORMATION WAS ENOUGH TO MAKE PEOPLE THINK TWICE IF THEY WERE GOING TO DO ANYTHING BAD FOR THE HORSES OR HAD ANY FOOLISHNESS IN MIND. THEY COULD PROSECUTE NOW NOT ONLY UNDER UNDERTHINGS, BUT UNDER THE FEDERAL WILD HORSES AND BURROS ACT. >> IS THIS GOING TO HELP US OUT? > LikeLike
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  6. Canada joins you in awakening the spirit of Canadians’ and Americans alike. It is fast approaching the time of awakening – we have been bombarded with the “good ol’ boys” clubs and thier unethical, inhumane practises for far too long. Their days of controlling with fear and lies are becoming shorter and shorter. To quote the great american “Boss” Bruce Springstein….
    “Fears a powerful thing
    Turn your heart black with who you can trust
    It’ll take your God filled soul
    Fill it with devils and dust.
    But we’ve got God on our side.”

    The “Boss” has spoken. A call to truth, integrity, ethics, humanity, transparency, honesty, to name just a few of the new beliefs of “anarchy”

    You can’t make us “fear the boogy man” any longer. It worked for a spell…it still works today…but for the enlightened (and our numbers are growing) The “good ol’ boys” are very transparent on one thing and one thing only: Greed.

    I return to my quiet Canadian ways.
    God speed to those in the trenches today.

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    • Hi Joan and welcome. I’m so elated that Canada is getting on board. We, as horse lovers and all forms of wildlife are so very grateful. The louder and greater our voices are, the better chance we are to be taken seriously… God Bless You and all the kind people trying to help with this most humane cause. Belle Blevins

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  7. I totally agree with you, Lisa and Greyfel. If what this man spoke was what is reported here he makes no sense to me. He has no idea what is going on, but then that really fits in on how the BLM is conducting business so…….. Everytime I reread his comments to try to respond to it here I am completely lost as to how to comment on his senselessness.

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  8. It seems to me that the BLM, just as SSue and her minions, are simply incapable of understanding that the American people are no longer buying their BS. Just because they make a statement does not turn that statement into fact, i.e., the statement about 100,000 horses on a few Indian reservations proves these people wouldn’t know a fact if it stood up and slapped them int he face! Sure wish I could be in Nevada to tell them so personally. And we all need to be sharing this blatant lie with our members of Congress. They the ones who can change this, as the good judge McKibben pointed out to Laura Leigh. Great post as always R.T.!

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  9. This is what happens to America’s Wild Horses and Burros when they are whisked away to prisons, never to be seen again. DO look at ALL of the slides.

    Look at ALL of the pictures and scroll the arrow to the top to read the captions. These WILD HORSES have been through the trauma of helicopter roundups and being transported for miles, and GOD only knows what other things have been done to them along the way and then they CASTRATED….by WHO and HOW?
    PICTURES
    http://www.lvrj.com/multimedia/Prison-Wild-Horse-Training-126075388.html
    Convict cowboys train horses, seek redemption at Nevada camp
    Las Vegas Review-Journal

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  10. Jim Stephenson has droned on about how the Yakima reservation has been ‘devastated’ by the wild horses, ad nauseum. He was quoted as saying there was “no food” left for anything.

    Really, Mr Stephenson? Last year the Yakama tribe struck a deal with the Safari Club to import Pronghorn Antelope from Nevada to the reservation land in Washington State.

    Evidently, the “devastation” caused by horses wasn’t bad enough to preclude introducing another grazing species.

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  11. “If you have men who will exclude any of God’s creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have men (women) who will deal likewise with their fellow men.” Sound like the way some of our animal hating politicians wouldn’t you say!

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  12. When is the BLM going to get people that love animals and will be the voices of the horses for a change, instead of trying to get rid of our protected horses that Wild Horse Annie fought for all her life is all her hard work in vain. We need people in the BLM that will be animal friendly not get in there to get rid of the protected horses:( Hope someday soon that will happen it certainrly needs some better changes that are in order NOW:) Karma!!!

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  13. Forgetting also to mention that before outside excess breeding, many reservations were proud & able to round up,train,sell from their horse stock to others. These were the first ‘cowboy’ horses not aqha! And Blm cares about profit,such as renting land out to ranchers & prospectors. This is all quite disturbing.

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  14. I just want to know what we are going to do to stop them? We need to start soon or there won’t be anything left to try and save.

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  17. How does any of this statement relate to BLM board and being an “advisor”? 100,000 horses running free? Where is he getting these numbers from? What are the credentials for being on this board?

    I didn’t see a thing that said I own horses or cattle. I worry about the land and want to help the horses, the land and any and all grazing rights. I’m willing to tell management that they have to give back the land to the horses and not to cattle.

    And Callie? I keep getting the same petition asking me to sign it–which I already did weeks ago. As of yet, Obama and Salazoo haven’t listened. And the newest thing is a petition is only counted as one signature because even if you say your own words–they count it as one signature because everyone’s saying basically the same thing.

    What happened to THE PEOPLE’S VOICE? I don’t care how many people have said RETURN THE LAND TO THE HORSES–each signature should count as just that. OTHERWISE YOU TAKE AWAY THE PEOPLE’S VOICE.

    By law I have a right to my voice. I have a right to be heard. And so do the rest of us.

    The other night my cous sent me this article from the Romney people about “will we the People forget about Bush economics”? They apparently are hoping people will have amnesia about how Bush ran everything into the ground.

    The only thing I could say in response was I DON’T LIKE EITHER CANDIDATE. I mean who do we choose? Romney who will set us all back to the Bush era? Obama who HATES horses?

    i know voting is suppose to be up the individual but having some feedback from others who see our objectives–sometimes with a clearer view than I–would really help.

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    • Margaret! I applaud you. I don’t like either candidate either. It seems with each election, we’re getting more garbage and less common thinking and compassion. It has become a nation where money is the bottom line, and the green back will see that the American taxpayer, who is in the middle class, is thrown to the bottom of the barrel. We, the American taxpayer and the mostly middle class,has to get together in mass to change all these charlatans and throw them out of office; otherwise, our wild horses, domestic horses, and donkeys will be a thing of the past, and our very existence will be governed by the wealthy and the greedy individuals.

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    • Mitt Romney’s wife was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis about 10 years ago. After coming out of a coma and confronting her mortality, Mrs. Romney said that something she had always wanted was a horse. She decided to take up dressage, and as recently as a year or two ago was competing on the Grand Prix level. During this time, she has also faced breast cancer. She has said that if her husband is elected, there will be horses at the White House.

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  18. I stopped attending those meetings several years ago, because I could not stomach the anti-horse attitudes and the huge publicity stunt they pull at these things. I know some might feel I should be in there fighting, but I just can’t. I’d rather go choke each and everyone of them! I’m better off fighting in other ways, then attending their propaganda meetings… I liken it with attending a Nazi ralley!

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    • Get in their face NVKate! Let them know there are decent humans watching….no matter the numbers. Please show up at the meetings. It makes the garbage that is state and Fed land rapists squirm.

      What could have changed if the peoples Hitl*r gained control of had said, it could be me next? Gotta stop it…..gotta stop it! The creep….the evil creep that is “not me”, “I don’t care”, “doesn’t affect me” has to stop!!!!!

      BTW, we got another positive BSE dairy cow in CA.

      Don’t you just love the USDA, CA state Ag and all the “all meat is good (including equines) cheerleaders”?

      Good job? Nope….same old, same old.

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  19. I hope you don’t mind, but I copied one of your paragraphs and sent in to the Whitehouse. Tried to get to Michelle but it is going to the pres (maybe).
    These BLM ignorant people just make me sick, sick, sick.

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  20. Must horse haters be stupid. Or the stupid be horse haters. Trying to read the crap (stallion excrement) that man said gave me a headache. Where do they find these jokers. We must get rid of them.

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  21. Does anyone have any suggestions how we can gain by getting together in mass and demanding that these sobs are fired, from Salazar, Abbey on down the ladder. In addition, we need to get rid of all these idiots that have gotten on this board. Who in the h__ll do they think they are and that we are stupid. They are the ones that are stupid. We see through them everytime they open their da__m mouths. THey are becoming a joke. TO bad, they don’t take the same plane to their destination and all of a sudden the plane has a malfunction. This would save us all a lot of trouble and get rid of all the gerks.

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  22. Could they have picked worse people to serve and speak on behalf of our wild horses than this geezer and that Callie Wild Horse Hater chick. Unbelievable. What a sham agency. Total corruption top to bottom.

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  23. Well this man told them and he is there to see if first hand, they are acting like it is just wasteland and frying up and well, this is what he said-

    Good morning, Mr. chairman . First, an apology. I am sorry I did not wear my cowboy hat. I want to bring you two bits of good news. One is that while the horses are popular in Nevada. An email I got recently was correct — the Democratic Party would include a platform in the upcoming election endorsing wild horses as part of its political campaign. The second thing — I believ — If you believe what you heard, Nevada would appear to be a wasteland, and avoid of wildlife, vegetation, all this sort of stuff. It couldn’t be further from the truth. Nevada is a game species with respect to the health of the state. We have never had more elk, more prong horns in Nevada than we have now. They are pushing 30,000. Mule deer are not at a historic high levels, but that is another story. I also predict to you that in two or three months, when the board of commissioners meet, they will approve a duck hunting season with the biggest PAC limit. — bag limit. The trappers will get their usual four-month I may wildlife% more than a horse person and those are the kinds of numbers I look at going to fish and games. Not to support the desolation you have heard about. That is simply not true. Thank you very much for your service. It’s much more fun and easier to sit in the audience and to be in the committee. I know that from my past experience. Thank you.

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  24. > Thank you. So we have a mandate — healthy horses on healthy — oh, am I done already? [LAUGHTER] Healthy horses on healthy rangelands. I hear you constantly talk about removal and what happens after the removal — corrals, long- term pastures, eco-sanctuary. I see that 75% of your money is going towards off- the-range management. I look in your budget that you projected last October at the Advisory Board meeting. 90% of the budget went to Program support. Only 5% of the budget in on-the- range of management. Does that mean you have no problems on the range with which you have to deal? I think you do. Your mandate here says “Healthy horses.” By avoiding these management problems, you are not having a healthy horses. Some of these problems I think you need to address. Do you know how many horses and burros are in each herd? It is your responsibility. What number makes for genetic viability? Should we insist on that number? What are the rolling patterns? Are there running patterns — roaming patterns within the HME? Are there obstructions to the roaming patterns that need to be addressed? Is there is seasonal space being invaded by other users on the range? Remember, these courses and — horses and burros have a limited, defined amount of space. Are the water sources adequate and acceptable? What needs to be done to ameliorate the situation? We are so concerned — about the state House of forage. What about the wild horse for rich? — forage? You are just scrambling and scattering them, but most animals are there for a reason. You need to address the reasons why we might want to hold our hands together. Is there a plan for reproduction? I just had numbers to maintain the viability and health. What are the necessary adjustments and negotiations necessary to preserve their health? What are the necessary projects and costs? These should be entitled to your management of the wild horses — these should be entitled to the management of the wild horses. Healthy horses on healthy range land. Thank you very much.

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  25. I agree with RT, Abbey & Salazar should be fired. This board is a farce, just another BLM ploy to roundup and finish wiping the remaining wild horses from public lands. Give me a break, 100k horses on an Indian reservation?! Even DDDuquette doesn’t claim the number to be that high in his pitch for a new slaughterhouse & 501c rescue (on the same piece of land) in OR. They are all in this together! Well, we also are all in this battle together to stop them. This is OUR LAND & OUR HORSES. I do what I always do, call/write/fax my senator, Pat Meehan, & the committee of Science Transportation & Commerce. We need HR 2966 passed. The BLM looks stupid with a spkr who opens a mtg and doesn’t even have his facts right? The BLM just wants to manage the wildones into history and I’ll never understand it.

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    • It was the wild horses and burros that was the impetus for the formation of the BLM and the Department of Interior. As the Eqidae go, so should these tax-payer funded subsidiaries of public lands ranchers, game hunters, etc.

      If the Democrats think for one minute that we are stupid enough to trust anything as cheap as words on the party platform after all we have seen the last three years, they are nuts. This administration has been the most anti-wild horse and burro and anti-domestic horse in history. Do they think we’ve been asleep for three years? The Democrats have been in charge. Senator Reid was the spark that ignited the Burns Amendment.

      There is only one cynical, sick reason the Dems would mention this now, and that is because they are afraid it is an issue that Mitt Romney can win from them. I am not talking about Rresentative Moran or Senator Landrieu, Representative Grijvala or anyone else who has been with the horses all the while. But once upon a time, there was an Illinois senator who voted to end horse slaughter before he became President of the U. S. on his way to being the Emperor of the New World Order. Any ideas about what puppy millers are doing under the protective wing of the meat industry?

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      • Good, hoofhugs. You’re on top of all the BIG issues — the overarching NWO that is behind all this greed, fear-mongering, pride, hatred, and everything else that is so contrary to God, good, and His “very good” creation.

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  26. According to the Federal Land Policy & Management Act, Section 1753 Grazing Advisory Boards, there are 16 western states where advisory boards control grazing rights on public lands. In each state an advisory board has at least 15 livestock members who meeting annually. This needs to change immediately! Since the public lands belong to the people and wild life, the public should be electing or appointing board members in each state that want to preserve and protect wildlife and the wild lands, sustaining an ecological balance. Anyone with simple common sense and compassionate is capable of making decisions regarding animal welfare and their rights to survival. What happened to America the beautiful land of opportunity and freedom is our fault! We trusted the wrong people, they are destroying our soil, food, water, air and lives. If we do not do something about it now, all the living will continue to suffer to death and an alarming rate. We the people are the majority, we must stop that handful of controlling greedy corporates and their political cronies, or we are doomed!

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  27. The BLM is out of control and answers to nobody. It is the voice of ranchers and hunters. The BLM needs to be shut down. Their cruel and senseless hatred of horses and wildlife is insane. Our tax dollars should not support this agency.

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  29. No matter how many posts I read, I’ll never understand how so many people can be so blinded, so stupid!! Why can’t they see the importance & the value of this breed, the Mustang!!?? And, the value of keeping enough intact, breeding herds together, in the wild, to preserve those awesome qualities. The Mustang breed is probably the most multi-talented, hardworking, & reliable, & among the highest in endurance, & among the most beautiful, to name just a handful of qualities. Look at the Mustang, Padre. He’s a Dressage champion, no less! And, he’s one of the special guest horses at this year’s upcoming Breyerfest in Lexington, KY. Many mustangs have been gentled & are working as therapy horses to the disabled. The Mustang breed should be respected, maybe even over all other breeds, as a true native horse, one to be proud of, not looked down upon, not destroyed! Some could be carefully (NOT over-bred!!) bred in captivity so that horse lovers would have a chance to own, love & care for one. The rest should be left in the wild, there is no reason or excuse that these horses can not co-exist with all the invasive cattle, the ranchers (think of money generated through tourism!), & even with the big power producing companies & all their greedy cronies!

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  30. A Quarter-horse owner at the barn where my Mustang friend is homed looked at her feet and said,”Wow! She’s got great feet. QH breeders have bred the feet right out of QH’s.” I have thought that it would be a good idea to keep some of these herds as minimally outer-bred as possible to keep the genetic strength that wild horses that live in inhospitable climates available to help strengthen some of our vulnerabilities in domestic breeds. Of course, that would require foresight on the part of the BLM! as well as some knowledge about a species we don’t kill for food.

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  31. Is Jim Stephenson suffering from mad cow disease, alcoholism, or is he just plain stupid? His speech is completely incoherent! What an insult to the American public!

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    • In all fairness, the BLM was using speech recognition software to record the text so sentence structure went out the window with a lot of keywords but the intent remains the same, he wants the horses out.

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  32. I thought that the Pres. of the USA was supposed to represent all of us–not just some of us–not just the things he personally supports. So I consider the lifting of the horse slaughter ban a personal attack from the Pres. of the USA on me and my lifestyle. I consider “loading” the BLM board with pro-slaughter persons a way of disenfranchising me—it is plundering my tax dollars for what I consider crimes against nature. Now if the Pres. banned football–or some other sport–do you think that the USA would be all over it? There would be such outrage and uproar and marching that DC would crumble. Yet Obama and the BLM are putting living creatures at risk. I also consider these actions to be a War on Women– in an insidious and devious way. Think about it.

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    • Ann, my “thinker” 🙂 comprehends all you say up to the comment about this being an insidious and devious War on Women. Could you please explain that?

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  33. The Peter principle of incompetence is alive and well. I agree with those who feel that Abbey, Salazar and all of the employees in the entire Wild Horse and Burro Program need to be FIRED.

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    • If you have any ideas on how to get this monolithic, archaic monster (beef, lumber, minerals) BLM to listen to it’s drone taxpayers, please let me know.

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  34. It is NOT the Advocates who have violated the Free Roaming Wild Horses and Burros Act:

    “WE WORKED WITH THE OFFICE AND THEY SAID THIS INFORMATION WAS ENOUGH TO MAKE PEOPLE THINK TWICE IF THEY WERE GOING TO DO ANYTHING BAD FOR THE HORSES OR HAD ANY FOOLISHNESS IN MIND. THEY COULD PROSECUTE NOW NOT ONLY UNDER UNDERTHINGS, BUT UNDER THE FEDERAL WILD HORSES AND BURROS ACT.”

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  35. You all , I apologize for my long Email above. I didn’t get it copied and pasted correctly–was just so upset after hearing all the BS at the Board meeting. It’s an all out war against our wild horses by the cattlemen and Farm Bureau and DOI/BLM. Lies and more lies.

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  36. http://prophoto7journal.wordpress.com/2012/03/18/blm-and-their-lack-of-taking-responsibility/
    BLM and Their Lack of Taking Responsibility
    BLM Special Agent interviews an Informant on the subject of stealing horses from the BLM Wild Horse Herd Roundups:
    “Agent: Is this a pretty good organization? This sounds like something that’s pretty well planned out, it’s a big organization.
    Informant: Well, its very well set up, you know. There’s nobody that participates in it that isn’t well known and don’t know what’s going on.
    Agent: Do you feel like there’s people inside the BLM that know about this practice, that are a part of this practice?
    Informant: Sure. We can’t operate unless they’re standing there. . .”
    BLM and Illegal Activity History

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  37. What a disgrace to America that Stephenson and Hendrickson have been assigned to the National WHB Advisory Board! I wish I could have made it but had to go to Colorado to promote the message of my book: The Wild Horse Conspiracy. It outlines Reserve Design as a way of stopping these deadly and herd destructive roundups. The steps are clearly defined and should be followed through on by wild horses and burro caring officials not the farces and livestock industry, hunter industry puppets we have in power at present. The old Biblical saying concering “corruption in high places” (so called high) certainly applies here!

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