CARSON CITY, Nev. - The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Stillwater Field Office is initiating a 30-day public comment period seeking input on the Preliminary Environmental Assessment (PEA) for the proposed Clan Alpine Horse Gather. To help inform the BLM’s decision, BLM is seeking public comments and input under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act for the project. This includes seeking information and identifying historic properties in or near the Project area. Public comments will be accepted through July 17, 2023.
This PEA addresses potential environmental consequences associated with excess wild horses within and outside of the Clan Alpine herd management area (HMA) located in eastern Churchill County north of US Highway 50, in the Clan Alpine Mountains and surrounding area. The PEA analyzed the direct, indirect, and cumulative effects from implementation of the project.
The proposed action is to gather and remove excess wild horses from within and outside the Clan Alpine HMA to achieve the established Appropriate Management Level (AML) of 612-979 wild horses and implement a range of fertility control techniques to maintain the population within AML over a period of up to 10 years.
In February of 2023, BLM conducted an aerial census flight and estimated the population of the HMA to be at 1,688 horses, which is well above AML.
“The BLM’s priority is to conduct a safe, efficient, and successful horse gather operation while ensuring humane care and treatment of all animals gathered," said Stillwater Acting Field Office Manager, John Mitchell.
Comments may be submitted by the following methods: ePlanning webpage (“Participate Now in left-hand margin)- BLM preference: https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2022686/510 or mail to 5665 Morgan Mill Road, Carson City, NV 89701
Please address comments to the “Clan Alpine PEA". Written comments must be postmarked or otherwise hand delivered by 4:30 PM on or before July 17, 2023. For more information contact: John Axtell, Wild Horse & Burro Specialist at 775-885-6146 or by email at jaxtell@blm.gov.
Source: Bureau of Land Management