BLM Allows Livestock Grazing in Sand Wash Basin Just Months After "Emergency" Wild Horse Roundup
Photos used with permission, ©Nadja Rider
For Immediate Release
Contact: Lisa Friday (804) 389-8218
Deniz Bolbol (650) 248-4489
Dana Zarrello (856) 419-9871
BLM Allows Livestock Grazing in Sand Wash Basin Just Months After “Emergency” Wild Horse Roundup on Same Public Lands
The Cloud Foundation Calls for a Congressional Investigation on BLM’s Mis-Use of “Emergency” Powers to Avoid NEPA and Public Participation in Controversial Roundups
COLORADO SPRINGS, CO (November 11, 2021) – Today, the Cloud Foundation (TCF), a national organization dedicated to protecting America’s wild horses and burros on public lands, is calling out the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM’s) hypocrisy for allowing thousands of livestock to graze in northwestern Colorado’s Sand Wash Basin (click for video) just weeks after the agency claimed “lack of forage” and “drought” as the reasons for an “emergency” roundup of 632 wild horses on the same public lands.
The BLM claimed, “This emergency gather prevents impacts to wild horses and the environment due to exceptional drought and lack of forage.” However, BLM regulations state “emergencies generally are unexpected events…” The majority of Moffat County, where the Sand Wash Basin Herd Management Area (HMA) is located, has been designated as “Extreme Drought – D3” since at least September 2020. The ongoing drought in Moffat County does not qualify as an “unexpected” event given it has been ongoing for over a year.
By declaring the roundup an “emergency,” the BLM avoided adhering to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirement to obtain public input on governmental actions. In 2021-2020 the agency has repeatedly mis-used its “emergency” powers to circumvent NEPA and push forward with the removal of thousands of wild horses without any environmental review.
TCF is calling on Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Congressman Raul Grijalva, chair of the House Committee on Natural Resources, and Congressman Joe Neguse, chair of the House Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands, to investigate the BLM’s pattern of using its “emergency” powers to roundup wild horses in federally designated wild horse habitat claiming “lack of forage” while allowing commercial livestock to graze the same public lands.
“Congress needs to take a hard look at the BLM’s practice of circumventing NEPA under the guise of “emergency” and “lack of forage” while then turning around and allowing thousands of commercial livestock to graze the same public lands,” said Ginger Kathrens, Board President of the Cloud Foundation. “Congress needs to hold a hearing on this abuse of power and hold this agency accountable.”
“Wild horses and burros are restricted to just 11% of public lands compared to livestock which is permitted on more than 60% of public lands,” said Lisa Friday, TCF Director of Communications. “Even in Congressionally-designated Wild Horse and Burro Herd Areas, livestock is given more than 80% of the forage compared to the 20% allocated to wild horses and burros. Wild horses are the poster child for this mismanagement of our public lands.”
TCF supports the humane management of America’s wild horses and burros at genetically viable population levels through the humane PZP fertility control which has been proven to be safe and effective.
The Cloud Foundation (TCF), a 501(c)3 non-profit, has been at the forefront of wild horse advocacy since its inception in 2005. TCF was founded by Emmy award-winning filmmaker Ginger Kathrens, creator of three acclaimed PBS Nature series documentaries that followed the wild stallion Cloud throughout the seasons of his life. Dedicated to the protection and preservation of wild horses and burros on our public lands, The Cloud Foundation advocates for protecting natural wild equid behaviors, repatriation of wild horses to zeroed-out Herd Areas, and for equal allocation of forage within Congressionally-designated Herd Areas.
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