UPDATE Feb 22, 2021 Several recently approved documents that have been facing legal actions are being reviewed.
Several of them have been suspended as they face review. The “spay play” at Confusion is one of those plans. (Our legal filing reflects the review and will update by May 1. The review can take longer, but we will be able to update you on the status. )
However, spaying is also planned in places like Desatoya and other forms of sterilization. Some of the plans on the list we submitted are about livestock and mining in HMAs. Those plans are also “in review.”
When the new Secretary of Interior takes her chair, the review will be at her direction. You can “up your action” and write a letter HERE.
WHE is involved in 5 legal actions at this time and we will update you on each as information becomes available.
You can help push a larger review of the program and help us gain a suspension of actions where BLM has not created actual management planning.
January 27, 2021: Today, Wild Horse Education (WHE) sent a request to suspend BLM operations (roundups, sterilization, Adoption Incentive Program) that have been approved, or are in process of approval, under the tenure of William Perry Pendley, former acting Director of BLM.
WHE has sent a list of approved, and pending, EAs to the Department of Interior, and the President, asking for review based on the “the questions of fact. law. and policy they raise.”
Included on the list is the EA for the Confusion Herd Management Area (HMA) that contains, among other activities, the experimental spaying of mares. The Confusion HMA is part of a complex of HMAs where the other HMAs are already subject to experimental procedures and various forms of temporary fertility control.
“Confusion is simply one of the plans on the list that will stand for at least a decade without further review,” stated Leigh. “When you throw in the suspicious grazing permits being issued that expand livestock use, fast track mines, etc. on top of these same HMAs, it is clear that under Pendley his directives are not based on any pretense of fair and science based management under multiple use, but were crafted to serve his clients for years to come.”
WHE requests that the EAs that will determine agency action for a decade, or more, be reviewed and remanded for revision.
Our legal challenge against the Confusion EA is still active.
More info:
President Biden signed Executive Order (EO) 3395:
Purpose. This Order is made for the purpose of implementing a targeted and time- limited elevation of relevant decisions at the Department of the Interior (Department) for the purposes of reviewing the questions of fact. law. and policy they raise. This Order ensures that the Department continues its existing operations-including operations necessary for health, safety, and national security matters-consistent with all legal obligations and policy goals to uphold trust and treaty responsibility to tribal nations and to responsibly steward the Nation’s public lands, waters, and resources for current and future generations.
This order is currently being interpreted to apply only to mining and oil and gas lease projects on public lands by those within federal land management agencies. A series of additional Executive Orders (EO) are expected today that deal with public lands and conservation issues.
WHE has requested that the EOs be expanded, or a new one issued, with a directive that includes wild horse and burros Environmental Assessments (EA) that are in progress, or have been finalized, under the Memorandums issued by William Perry Pendley.
We have also requested that the Office of Inspector General (OIG) complaints against Pendley be re-opened and reviewed. Over the last 4 years the OIG has simply handed over complaints, to the exact same individuals named in those complaints, for review and dismissal. Many OIG employees simply feared they would be fired and provided very little oversight for the public interest. This unfortunate fact must be remedied.
“The Memorandums issued by Pendley drove the creation of planning documents that benefit Pendley’s former law clients and their cohorts,” stated Laura Leigh, WHE President,”These directives from Pendley minimize open public participation, direct skirting of future analysis under NEPA and more. The damage to the public resource, wild horses, will continue long after Pendley is gone.”
WHE has sent a list of approved, and pending, EAs to the Department of Interior, and the President, asking for review based on the “the questions of fact. law. and policy they raise.”
Included on the list is the EA for the Confusion Herd Management Area (HMA) that contains, among other activities, the experimental spaying of mares. The Confusion HMA is part of a complex of HMAs where the other HMAs are already subject to experimental procedures and various forms of temporary fertility control.
“Confusion is simply one of the plans on the list that will stand for at least a decade without further review,” stated Leigh. “When you throw in the suspicious grazing permits being issued that expand livestock use, fast track mines, etc. on top of these same HMAs, it is clear that under Pendley his directives are not based on any pretense of fair and science based management under multiple use, but were crafted to serve his clients for years to come.”
WHE requests that the EAs that will determine agency action for a decade, or more, be reviewed and remanded for revision.
Our legal challenge against the Confusion EA is still active.
Help us stay in the fight.
Categories: Lead
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