It is extremely important for as many wild horse advocates as possible to attend this meeting Sept. 9-11 in Arlington, VIrginia.  Even if you can only go for one day, or a half a day, please go.  The Advisory Board will most likely address issues like the field spaying of mares, which we are concerned may be done at bait trapping sites with no public access or accountability.

Terry Fitch of Wild Horse Freedom Federation

If you want to read meeting minutes or review presentations from past National Wild Horse & Burro Advisory Board meetings, please click here.

Also, please e-mail Joan Guilfoyle at jguilfoy@blm.gov or call her at  (202) 912-7260 and ask for additional public comment time, and on more than one day.  And just so you know, in case you are confused by the article below, you can get up and speak WITHOUT having to give the BLM a written copy of your comments.

SOURCE:  KCSG.com

BLM Sets Meeting of National Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board for September  9-11 in Arlington, Virginia

(ARLINGTON, WV) – The Bureau of Land Management’s National Wild Horse and Burro  Advisory Board will meet for three days in September in Arlington, Virginia, to  discuss issues relating to the management, protection, and control of wild  horses and burros on Western public rangelands.  The meeting, which will focus  on the June 2013 report by the National Academy of Sciences (titled “Using  Science to Improve the BLM Wild Horse and Burro Program: A Way Forward”), will  take place on Monday, September 9, 2013, from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., on  Tuesday, September 10, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Wednesday, September 11,  from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. local time.

The NAS report, which was  commissioned by the BLM, called for several management actions, including the  more widespread use of a fertility-control vaccine known as PZP (porcine zona  pellucida) on mares.  Contrary to some reports, the study did not call for an  end to gathers of wild horses and burros from overpopulated herds, nor did the  report urge the BLM to “let nature cull any excess herds.”  The report’s  recommendations are under review by the BLM.

The upcoming Advisory Board  meeting will be held at the Key Bridge Marriott, 1401 Lee Highway, Arlington,  Virginia 22209, telephone number 703-524-6400.  The agenda of the meeting can be  found in the August 1, 2013, Federal Register (at ).

The Advisory Board  provides input and advice to the BLM as it carries out its responsibilities  under the 1971 Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act.  The law mandates the  protection, management, and control of these free-roaming animals in a manner  that ensures healthy herds at levels consistent with the land’s capacity to  support them.  According to the BLM’s latest official estimate, approximately  40,600 wild horses and burros roam on BLM-managed rangelands in 10 Western  states.

The public may address the Advisory Board on Tuesday, September  10, at 3:00 p.m., local time.  Individuals who want to make a statement at  Tuesday’s meeting should register in person with the BLM by 2:00 p.m., local  time, on that same day at the meeting site.  Depending on the number of  speakers, the Board may limit the length of presentations, set at three minutes  for previous meetings.

Speakers should submit a written copy of their  statement to the BLM at the addresses below or bring a copy to the meeting.   There may be a Webcam present during the entire meeting and individual comments  may be recorded.  Those who would like to comment but are unable to attend may  submit a written statement to: National Wild Horse and Burro Program, WO-260,  Attention: Ramona DeLorme, 1340 Financial Boulevard, Reno, Nevada, 89502-7147.   Comments may also be e-mailed to the BLM (at <wildhorse@blm.gov>); please  include “Advisory Board Comment” in the subject line of the e-mail.

For  additional information regarding the meeting, please contact Ramona DeLorme,  Wild Horse and Burro Administrative Assistant, at 775-861-6583.  Individuals who  use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may reach Ms. DeLorme during  normal business hours by calling the Federal Information Relay Service at  1-800-877-8339.

The Advisory Board meets at least once a year and the  BLM Director may call additional meetings when necessary.  Members serve without  salary, but are reimbursed for travel and per diem expenses according to  government travel regulations.

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