Oversight Hearing on DOI scheduled!

The House Committee of Natural Resource is holding a full Committee oversight hearing into activities of the Department of Interior. The jurisdiction of the committee extends into all areas of public land management including the Wild Horse and Burro program.

Check this link to see if any Committee members are in your state. Take the time to writ an intelligent, factual letter requesting that the egregious issues surrounding wild horse and burro management be included in the questions proposed to the new Secretary of the Interior, Sally Jewell.

We have compiled the list below to give you a head start in composing your letter:

• The recent National Academy of Sciences review of the program has revealed extremely disturbing information on the decision making process regarding practices concerning wild horses and buros. In a nutshell the report cites that decisions currently under way (including standing assessments that will remove wild horses and burros in the coming fiscal year) are not based on science. The process is arbitrary and based on guesswork. What changes in range management are proposed and will current assessments be determined to be inadequate in light of the new information?
• Because of the repetitive practices that have relied on removal as a primary tool for managing wild horses and burros, without comprehending the effects to existing populations, the entire program is upside down and a literally crisis exists with more animals in holding than on the range. The system of holding (that the public was never given opportunity to comment on) is primarily off limits to the public. Recent investigations have shown that animals have been sold to kill buyers in violation of Appropriations criteria. Policy fails to appropriately document death rates after roundups. The following questions pertain to holding: 1. Are there plans to rectify this situation and restore the publics ability to monitor how their tax money is spent and the health and well being of the animals? 2. Will there be any prosecution of individuals responsible for selling animals to slaughter buyers? 3. Will a new criteria for gathering data (including death rates, foal deaths and injuries) at facilities?
• In light of the current court actions that have gathered Temporary Restraining Orders and a Preliminary Injunction, and are ongoing in Federal court, will BLM be required to create a humane handling policy, and enforcement criteria, to address these ongoing legal situations?
• In light of ongoing litigation will BLM secure a policy that uses true scientific process to identify a viability of use for wild horse and burros that takes into account genetic health, equitable allotment of resource and accurate assessment of range boundaries and migratory patterns?
• The BLM claims transparency is a priority. Why is BLM hiding documents and access to information and to wild horses and burros at facilities and roundups?

These are a few of the questions we have written to outline the beginning of our request to the committee. Please take time to formulate your own.

There is  contact page if you would like to inquire further before submitting comments: https://naturalresources.house.gov/contact/

The meeting is open to the public and will be broadcast here on July 17th: thttp://naturalresources.house.gov/live.

Full Committee Hearing To Examine Interior Department’s Operations, Management, Rulemaking Interior Secretary Sally Jewell to Testify WASHINGTON, D.C. – The House Natural Resources Committee will hold anoversight hearing on Wednesday, July 17th entitled, “The Department of the Interior Operations, Management, and Rulemakings.”  Interior Secretary Sally Jewell will be the sole witness testifying at this hearing.  This will be Secretary Jewell’s first appearance before the Committee. “Oversight of the actions of the Interior Department is a priority for the Committee and this hearing will allow the opportunity for both Republicans and Democrats to ask questions of Secretary Jewell.  We look forward to her first visit to the House Natural Resources Committee,” said Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (WA-04). WHAT: Full Committee Oversight Hearing on “The Department of the Interior Operations, Management, and Rulemakings”  Witness: The Honorable Sally Jewell Secretary, U.S. Department of the Interior   WHEN: Wednesday, July 17, 2013 10:00 AM  WHERE: 1324 Hearing Room in the Longworth House Office Building   Visit the Committee Calendar for additional information, once it is made available.  The meeting is open to the public and a live video stream will be broadcast athttp://naturalresources.house.gov/live.