BLM Advisory Board Meeting Violates Federal Law

BLM ADVISORY BOARD MEETING VIOLATES FEDERAL LAW

Last minute board meeting is in violation of public notice regulations

Contact: Lisa Friday, Director of Communications
804-389-8218 | lisa@thecloudfoundation.org

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO – The Bureau of Land Management’s upcoming National Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board meeting is in violation of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA).

The meeting, scheduled for March 27-28th, 2018, was announced today, in clear violation of the requirement for 30 days of public notice prior to an advisory committee meeting. The BLM FACA Regulations state in 43 C.F.R. 1784.4-2:

“Notice of meetings: (a) Notices of meetings of advisory committees and any subcommittees that may be formed shall be published in the Federal Register and distributed to the media 30 days in advance of a meeting. However, if urgent matters arise, notices of meetings of advisory committees and any subcommittees shall be published in the Federal Register and distributed to the media at least 15 days in advance of a meeting. (b) Notices shall set forth meeting locations, topics or issues to be discussed, and times and places for the public to be heard.”

“While a representative for the BLM has stated that the meeting is urgent due to the tenure of 3 board members lapsing at the end of this month, this meeting also fails to meet the 15-day notice requirement for urgent matters,” said Lisa Friday, Director of Communications for The Cloud Foundation. “Additionally, it is difficult to understand how a tenure lapse of three board members could be urgent when the length of their term has been known for three years. “

Members whose terms expire on March 30, 2018 include Ms. Jennifer Sall, Public Interest Representative; Ms. June Sewing, Wild Horse & Burro Advocacy Representative; and Dr. Julie Weikel, DVM, Veterinary Medicine Representative.

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SOURCES: 
BLM Meeting Announcement: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2018/03/13/2018-05046/wild-horse-and-burro-advisory-board-meeting
Federal Advisory Committee Regulations: https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/43/1784.4-2

The Cloud Foundation (TCF) is a Colorado based 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to the protection and preservation of wild horses and burros on our western public lands.