BLM to Conduct Public Hearing Regarding use of Motorized Equipment for Wild Horse Management

| July 23, 2015 1:10 PM

BILLINGS, Mont. (July 21, 2015) – The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Billings Field Office has scheduled a public hearing on Friday, July 31, 2015 from 1:30 – 3:30 p.m. regarding the use of motor vehicles in administration of the wild horse and burro act. The hearing will be held at the BLM Montana State Office, 5001 Southgate Dr., Billings, Mont.

As part of the access procedures to federal buildings, all visitors are reminded that photo identification is required at the entrance.

In accordance with the Code of Federal Regulations 4740.1, the BLM must conduct a public hearing to obtain public comment regarding the use of any motor vehicles in managing wild horse and burros. Motorized equipment is used for accomplishing a number of management objectives such as transporting to holding, adopters, monitoring and administrative maintenance. The BLM is using trucks and horse trailers to transport wild horses during the PMWHR bait/water trap gather.

The public will be given an opportunity to speak, but BLM is asking for the public to bring written copies of their statements for the official record. Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address or other personal identifying information in comments during the hearing, be aware that the entire comments – including personal identifying information – may be made publicly available at any time. While it can be requested in comments to withhold personal identifying information from public review, the BLM cannot guarantee that the agency will be able to do so.

The PMWHR is located in the Pryor Mountains south of Billings, along the Montana-Wyoming border and encompasses approximately 38,000 acres of BLM, U.S. Forest Service and National Park Service managed land.

To learn more about the PMWHR and upcoming bait and water trap gather, please visit: http://blm.gov/08jd.

For the latest BLM news and updates visit us on the web at www.blm.gov/mt, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/BLMMontana, or follow us on Twitter @BLM_MTDKs.

The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land, the most of any Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. The BLM's mission is to manage and conserve the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations under our mandate of multiple-use and sustained yield. In Fiscal Year 2014, the BLM generated $5.2 billion in receipts from public lands.