Re: Washoe Nevada County Board of County Commissioners Meeting of May 13, 2014
The Washoe Nevada County Board is working on a major land grab of our public lands, to put public lands into the hands of the states and to make the states the decision makers – i.e. no more federal protection for our wild horses and burros.
Apparently, this is going on all over Nevada, and probably all over the western states.
Our wild horse and burro Herd Management Areas (HMAs) that are completely or partially within Washoe county, and subject to losing their federal protection include Bitner, Buckhorn, Buffalo Hills, Calico Mountain, Carter, Coppersmith, Dogskin, Flanigan, Fox Hog, Fox Lake Range, Granite Peak, Granite Range, High Rock, Massacre Lakes, Nut Mountain, Wall Canyon and almost half of the Twin Peaks HMA This would also include Herd Areas (HAs), such as Pah Rah, New Year’s Lake and Tule Ridge/Mahogany Flat.
Estimating this would affect about 2 million of our public acres and at least a thousand of our wild horses and burros in Washoe County alone!
Photo of OUR public land and OUR Wild Horses
Map: http://www.washoecounty.us/comdev_files/cp1/horse_map.pdf
Excerpts from the meeting (from page 2 & 3):
Expenditure of public funds for land management purposes can be focused upon both revenue and non-revenue producing activities. For example, production of forage for consumption by domestic livestock is considered an economic output. Alternatively, production of forage for consumption by wild horses and burros might be considered a non-economic output.
The production of forage for livestock consumption is predicated upon a desire to produce economic returns, whereas, the production of forage for wild horses and burros is the result of the need to comply with federal laws mandating protection of these species.
For example, WHILE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT MAY BE REQUIRED THROUGH LEGAL MANDATE TO PROVIDE HABITAT FOR WILD HORSES AND BURROS, STATES MAY NOT BE SIMILARLY INCLINED.
http://www.washoecounty.us/large_files/agendas/051314/30.pdf
More information: http://animallawcoalition.com/bill-would-authorize-local-control-of-wild-horses-and-burros/
Categories: Horse News, Wild Burros, Wild Horses/Mustangs
Straight from the Horse's Heart 
The Robber Barons would like to have it ALL
The Last Wild Horses
John Christopher Fine is a marine biologist with two doctoral degrees, has authored 24 books, including award-winning books dealing with ocean pollution
http://www.theepochtimes.com/n3/blog/the-last-wild-horses/
American robber barons raped the land and destroyed forests, polluted water resources and turned once pristine rivers into contaminated sewers. They are still doing it. They were vicious criminals then; there are vicious criminals destroying natural resources now. They got away with it through the complicity of corrupt government officials they bribed or put in office. The law meant nothing to them, driven by greed and ambition. Confronting cruel slaughter of wild horses by these same opportunists, a petite polio victim saw blood running out of the back of a truck. She followed it. When it stopped Velma Johnston was shocked at what she saw. One horse had its eyes shot out, babies were trampled on the floor, the frightened cargo was in a deplorable state. Questioning the truck driver this unlikely crusader was told the horses were rounded up on government range and were going to be slaughtered.
Most remember the old denomination for aged horses: ‘heading to the glue factory.’ Indeed horse hooves were processed into glue, their hides used for leather, their bones for fertilizer and their meat for animal food. Some of the meat was sold in Europe in the horse meat trade. Leaner than beef, horse meat was purveyed through butchers in Belgium and France where it was and still is popular.
This isn’t yesterday’s news, something from the 1960s, it is happening today. The battle for public lands continues with more vigor than ever. Public lands managed by the Department of Interior’s Bureau of Land Management as well as federal lands under the jurisdiction of the Park Service, Forest Service, military proving grounds under the auspices and control of the Department of Defense, indeed large Indian reservations operated by tribal governments all have wildlife. Some of that wildlife includes feral horses. That’s the crux of it, the simple word ‘feral.’ It means wild but has the connotation that the animal was once domesticated. There are no ‘domesticated’ animals allowed in national parks.
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Read that article before – and there were others! Smart guy!
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Louie, I followed your link to his page. I noticed that he did not say where he earned his PhD’s in marine biology. I also noticed that he works with UNEP–the United Nations Program for Global Governance of the Environment. The person responsible for actually moving the horses and burros on the exotic species list, working President Carter’s (May 1977) E.O. 11987, the Exotic Organisms Act, an amendment to the Lacy Act (President Carter refused to allow FWS to use the law on any already established species which would have included horses, burros, livestock, dogs and cats). However, between 1979 and 1980, this same Harvard IUCN biologist was teaching on a visiting professorship in a university in the town where I live. In the timeline of the Shackleford Banks wild horses, the NC Wildlife Society and Governor Hunt both make comments regarding the NPS’s claims that the horse is an exotic species (coincidence?).
Something else that is interesting is that four months after the 1971 Wild Free Roaming Horse and Burro Act was passed, the U.S. ratified the 1951 opened International Plant Protection Convention–referred to on the U.S.D.A. web site as the 1972 IPPC, an invasive species law. Interesting that this dude spent some time working at the U.S.P.H. I. S. while at Harvard in the 1960’s. And it is the 97 Update of the International Plant Protection Convention that was used to overturn the 1971 Wild Free-Roaming Horse and Burro Act. However, wild horses and burros are native—. Our government knows this because the hombre who got the horses on the list has been in the right place at the right time to know what research was being done and where it would likely be published. The research itself is not falsified, but the important details that would tell us that the horse is native—fossil sample in Alaska older than one in Germany, for example, are in figures. You also need to know the different names that are taxonomically equivalent to E. caballus like caballine and caballoid. Dr. Kirkpatrick and Fazio’s paper hits all the relevant points, but if you are able to find their references on the Internet or in a library, you find out there is so much more to it.
The first reference to the horse as exotic species is by FWS in 1973. In 1972 the IPPC was ratified. More importantly based on the relationships of the people and organizations involved is that the first UN Conference on the Human Environment. Few writers start off describing the Secretariat of this Conference as a Canadian oil and energy company executive, but based on information I recently reviewed, I think this is the critical link we are missing.
As a Canadian oil-power executive whose career may have begun in the early 40’s, he may have been aware of the huge oil, coal, oil sands mines in Germany where early mammals have been found within the caverns of layer after layer of fossil fuels. There were tremendous discoveries of fossils in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s in Canada and the West. Near the LaBrea tar pit where fossils of modern horse are found is the largest oil reservoir in the world is found. Vice President Al Gore’s father had a patron, Dr. Armand Hammer (of baking soda fame) and Dr. Hammer became the CEO of Occidental Petroleum, a western based petroleum company. VP Gore had a coal profits trust fund that paid him $20,000 a year. Maurice Strong held a number of positions in the UN including being the Secretariat of the UN CBD. President Bush asked his attorneys to look over the treaty to see if they could find any problems with it. They advised him not to sign it because it was a threat to property rights, which is exactly what Article 8 (h) that the FAO agreed to write into the 1997 IPPC does. If you or I have an animal anywhere the government doesn’t want it to be, the government can seize it. The government can shut down any animal or plant related business if it doesn’t want you to see it.
I don’t know why wild horse advocates don’t know about this. These laws make up the Exotic Species Chapters in UN Agenda 21—this was on the U.S.D.A.’s web site.
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Navy Plans Electromagnetic War Games Over National Park and Forest in Washington State
11/10/2014
http://www.whatcompjc.org/wpjc-blog/navy-plans-electromagnetic-war-games-over-national-park-and-forest-in-washington-state
The area in question is the Olympic Peninsula, including the Olympic National Park and Olympic National Forest,
as well as cities and communities, for 260 days per year, with exercises lasting up to 16 hours per day.
The damage to flora and fauna in Washington State could be monumental and precedent setting.
District Ranger Millett is expected to sign the permit despite almost
unanimous public opposition, *unless the Forest Service receives formally
and in writing what he called “substantive” comments by the end of the
comment period on November 28*, *2014*. Mr Millett declined to define
“substantive” when asked at a public informational meeting. Therefore, it
is the aim of this document to provide readers with the best examples of
substantive comments possible, short of legal advice from an attorney.
*Public comments can be sent* to: dmillett@fs.fed.us, gtwahl@fs.fed.us, and
inputted directly online at:
https://cara.ecosystem-management.org/Public//CommentInput?Project=42759
Comments from former federal employee/biologist
Click to access Violations%20of%20Law%20-%20Navy%20EW%20and%20Forest%20Service%20Sullivan%20Nov.%2014%202014.pdf
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This land has been set aside for the American people. However, some of the residents in the Western states feel that they own the land. It is imperative that we push or Legislators to take stands against the take over of our public lands. We can no longer allow are lands and our wildlife to be sold off to foreign entities. Its amazing that there are such thieves. Unbelievable!!!!
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Louie, I grew up in southern Colorado on my grandparents’ ranch. My brother now runs the ranch. In the 1980’s the Dept of Defense took, by imminent domain (basically stealing), ranches, homes, graveyards and small towns away from American citizens to form what is now Pinon Canyon Manuever Site. Army. They stole over 200,000 acres. They are now trying to steal 418,000 acres MORE. The ‘maneuver site’ they have had since the ’80’s has destroyed much of the beautiful pristine short grass prairie of southern Colorado, along with countless dinosaur artifacts and footprints, ancient rock drawings, ranches and land that have been in families for many generations, some date back to Spanish land grants. They have destroyed the prairie and the danger of the dust bowl happening all over again is huge. They had fires on the base and have not notified the owners of neighboring land, and so the fires have spread to the private land. In short, they care NOTHING about the wellbeing of the land OR the inhabitants, whether they be human or animal. The Dept of Defense is now making a concerted effort to strongarm the BLM into ‘loaning’ them MORE land to conduct their testing of new weaponry on. How much effort it will take to accomplish that is doubtful, since they are both federal government agencies. I just heard today the the USFW is trying to obtain thousands of acres along the Laramie River in WY because one of the inhabitants is an endangered toad. What a load of crap that is! Since when do they care about ANY living thing??? I believe that the government is making every attempt to take every acre of land into their possession that they can. Why, you ask? I don’t at this point know. The DOD is trying to expand their ownership of land in just about every state in the U.S. It now owns over 30 MILLION acres…the US government in general owns just about 30% of the United States’ land. OUR land. Why do they need more, and why do they want all the horses gone??? Not 1 More Acre is an organization that is fighting the DOD, trying to stop further expansion.
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When did the DOD start buying extra land. I thought they were closing bases.
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Not right , if the government keeps going there will be nothing left for the horses.
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If we do not work thru our Legislators please tell me how we are to protect the land? The public lands were set aside due to the efforts of those in Washington. Wild Horse Annie worked to get the law past to protect the Wild Horses. Unfortunately it was Legislators who took their protection away as well. Again, how do you get permanent protection without legislative action?
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We have had posts in the past about the land grab going on 3 more about Obama ‘ s land grab agenda http://nypost.com/2010/08/14/obamas-land-grab
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http://spectator.org/articles/34970/obamas-federal-land-grab
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http://www.infowars.com/agenda-21-the-blm-land-grabbing-endgame
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And then there is this little tidbit http://godfatherpolitics.com/19022/obama-tells-prince-william-re-writing-constitution-doable
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So they see Provision of forage for the wild horses and burro as simple compliance and provison of forage for cattle as an economic investment. Selfish isn’t it? Who is benefitting from grazing? Certainly not many Americans. Who is benefitting from providing forage for the wild horses and burros? Every American except the few who will profit.
Which program on public land satisfies the criteria of “for the public good?”
I seriously doubt this land grab – this sagebrush rebellion – will succeed this time either. It really does come down to conversion of public resoirces for personal gain. So disgiutingly obvious. There are many greedy unscrupulous business interests who have turned their attention on our resoirces. And they are OUR resources. BLM better get that straight.
But a call to your Senator to confirm your position is not a bad idea.
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Jan, you got me wondering when the public lands and their ethic of conservation and multiple use were controverted into prioritizing for-profit ventures.
Marketing timber, minerals, wildlife and water etc. were part of the initial public lands policies, but the for-profit motive for a few was not the primary driver. These lands were set aside as a sort of public larder, not a private piggy bank. When public land is sold off, do any of you get a discount or refund, even for a day-use pass? I sure don’t.
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Just what I had predicted 2 yrs ago. Pays to Reread how the origination of public lands came about. This can be stopped. The Public who is set to lose the lands that they are attempting to revert yo each state will suffer damages and restrictions permantly as a result. These are Federally protected lands subject to public useindefinitely. Subsequently altering the agreement would result in Damages to Federal….Stste….and Local Public and wildlife. The chances of stopping this are high If enough Public Outcry against it preventing states from stopping public and free usage as well as protected wildlife and yes Federally protected horses from existing. The states cannot after an established amount if years take the land for private or business use as a duration of years has passed resulting in the States inability to reclaim lands. The attempt is to use an agreement made during the Civil War to take back the lands to each state…however the lands have been and are currently occupied and in use and have been suffiently past the landvreclamation time when they would have already been required to reclaim unused by the Federal Government lands. So this attempt can fail if they are met with a sufficient suit filing collectively to block all the states involved from being able to clear horses…wildlife and public off the lands.
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In other Words……Sue their Tookus Off! Photographers…authors….journalists….dreamers….wildlife experts….and so many others used the Public lands for Research and Inspiration so theres tons of jobs and animals including im sure protected horses…wildlife….birds…predators…insects…and fish at risk without this land being public. The Risks far outweigh the need for the land to revert on an antiquated Civil War Agreement and having had No Use of these parts of the States involved the States will Incur No losses. The land they will claim will be worth far less than the accumulative damages they will cause overall to all the aforementioned. Any Attorney can argue the issue with ease and win the Public and Wildlife Freedoms as promised in the Constitution. The Rights we have cannot be sectioned or sequestered by a States personal preference and inferrance what they would do with the land they havent had in their States possession. More notably the lands are best used to protect and serve Our country as they have continously for all these decades. If this were so important previously Why had they Not presented the case to take them back after the war? Why have they never argued this before? Shows the Public and the wildlife are the ones who cared enough to use it and be free on it.
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THE SIKES ACT
http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=119594
Sikes Act Anchors DOD’s Conservation Program, Official Says
By Claudette Roulo
American Forces Press Service
Military lands serve a critical role in protecting the nation and the nation’s natural resources, the acting deputy undersecretary of defense for environment and installations said here today.
At a hearing before the House Natural Resources Committee’s subcommittee on fisheries, wildlife, oceans and insular affairs to discuss proposed bills to reauthorize and amend the Sikes Act, John Conger said the act serves as the cornerstone of the Defense Department’s Natural Resources Conservation Program.
Because public access to military lands often is restricted, they contain some of the nation’s most significant remaining large tracts of undisturbed natural habitats, he said.
More than 520 species at risk live on the 28 million acres covered by the act, Conger said. “A surprising number of these species are … found nowhere else in the world,” he noted.
First enacted in 1960, the act ensures that sensitive ecosystems on military installations are protected while still allowing the services to use military lands according to their operational needs. “This is an invaluable tool for us,” Conger said. “It has protected our mission in a myriad of different ways.”
The proposed bills would extend the act through fiscal year 2019 and amend it to expand the cases in which federal and state matching funds could be used for conservation efforts. The amendment would give the department more flexibility and foster additional interdepartmental cooperation, Conger said.
The act is a conservation success story, Stephen D. Guertin, deputy director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, said in his testimony. Under the act, joint DOD, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and state conservation efforts have restored habitats and reduced threats to animal and plant life on military bases, he said.
A 1997 amendment required DOD to complete integrated natural resources management plans, to be reviewed annually, at about 380 military installations in the United States. The plans are prepared in cooperation with the federal and state fish and wildlife agencies, and reviewed by the Fish and Wildlife Service and state agencies every five years. The arrangement allows DOD to capitalize on the expertise of its statutory partners, Guertin said.
“The evolving benefit of the bill is clear,” Conger said. “One of the key successes of the Sikes Act is that it supports and strengthens our partnerships.”
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Grandma Greg,
Getting back to the issue of whether and how much these lands are going to be owned by the public—-I want to qualify my comments by saying that I have loved my visits to the West, but I don’t live there. There are national forests and rivers, lots of state, county, and city parks but because of my horses, I can go to a farm and escape into nature with her. This means a lot to me.
However, if my theory is correct about the top of the food chain in the environmental movement being about tying up US oil, natural gas, and coal supplies in the West. An oil executive from Alberta Canada becoming Secretariat of this movement—but the real give away is on the maps of the wild lands and wild ways projects that are supposed to be for wildlife migration. Those are horse’s migration routes and have been for millions of years, but they refuse to acknowledge the horse has been here any length of time. A horse can eat a lot of potential coal, oil, and natural gas and leave a lot of remnants to decay in 55 million years.
Why would any government or any scientists risk exposing your incompetence or reveal that your motives were not based on science by refusing to claim a native species that the scientific community knows is native to this continent” The payoff would have to be enormous to take the risk—and we know the oil is there. Al Gore knew the oil was there. President Clinton knew the oil was there because he sold the US Naval Oil Reserves in Bakersfield California to the company Al Gore’s family is invested in. They wanted the profit that only oil has brought. They have no intention of leaving that oil in the ground. Just let some indigenous person get in their way. Gore ran right over them in South America.
I know that many of you support many elements of the environmental causes. I don’t think there are many people who love the outdoors who want to see dirty air, dirty water, and contaminated soil. What we may not realize is just how many toxic chemicals and biological control agents have been released to kill alien species.
Changing the subject back to the whole alien, invasive, non-indigenous paradigm—65 million years ago North America and Europe were physically connected. Prior to that Asia was connected to Europe and North America. Therefore, the idea that species are only supposed to be in one location and not be anywhere else is fundamentally flawed. It is directly contradicted by geological history.
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I guess the point is that America is at a tipping point. That tipping point has a lot to do with the actions of a few people who want to end our Constitutional Republic. One of their major objections is the high value we put on private property rights. They support common property rights. If the land in the West was privately or state owned it would be much harder for anyone to do what Vice President Gore has been able to do by circumventing Congress and using International law.
I don’t know what the answers are for wild horses. There is no doubt that a lot of effort went into disguising a policy policy has been disguised to look as if it is scientifically necessary. Remember this started with FWS, TNC, and the IUCN in 1973. This looks like it was all FWS until around 1980 on paper, but this does not mean members of the BLM were not involved. However, unlike FS, APHIS, U.S.D.A. NPS, and FWS, the BLM did not have a natural international partner and until fairly recently worked more for the ranchers than against them. This is no longer the case. The earliest record of the BLM’s involvement in this in the February 2006 meeting at Berlin, Maryland, on reducing the number of ponies on Assateague Island. None the less, there were a lot of horses put up for adoption leading up to 2005 when the IPPC would be in force.
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