2. ORGANIZATIONAL CONSIDERATIONS

The WH&B staff was moved to the Nevada State Office on August 14, 1992, as part of the Director's downsizing initiative. Under the supervision of the Nevada State Director, the WH&B National Program Office (NPO) was established. The Division of WH&B Management at the Headquarters office (Washington, D.C.) was abolished. One advisor, attached to the Assistant Director, Land and Renewable Resources (AD, LRR), remained in the Headquarters Office. The AD, LRR retained all authority for approving National level policy, budget allocations among BLM offices and annual work plan directives.

Since 1992, there have been two reorganizations at the Headquarters office. The WH&B program was transferred to the Assistant Director, Resource Use and Protection, in fiscal year 1995 during the first reorganization, and was transferred again in fiscal year 1997 to the Assistant Director, Renewable Resources and Planning, (AD, RRP) as a result of a second reorganization. The authority for the WH&B program now resides with the AD, RRP.

Findings:

As a result of the organizational changes in the wild horse and burro program, coordination among state offices improved, especially in the scheduling and coordination of animal gathers and adoptions. However, also as a result, there has been a lack of effective communication between the National Program Office (NPO) and the Assistant Directors assigned responsibility for the WH&B program. Policy, program guidance, and overall program direction are being made at the NPO without Bureauwide communication or coordination. Decisions and direction for the WH&B activities are being made separate from other National program activities such as rangeland management, wildlife habitat, riparian considerations and other health of the land activities.

With the placement of the NPO into the Nevada State organization, operational duties of the Nevada wild horse and burro program and the National program duties have been combined. As a result, both organizations lost part of their previous identity and effectiveness. The NPO office lead is now responsible for the overall National policy duties of the NPO and daily operations of the BLM Nevada WH&B program.

The Team found this combination to be more than one position/office can handle effectively. This organizational change created a "responsibility overload" in trying to balance the allocation of resources between the National programmatic needs and the operational needs of the Nevada State Office.

Collectively, the Team found the above findings contributed to an atmosphere of mistrust between the public and the BLM, and a lower level of confidence in the BLM's ability to manage the WH&B program, especially in Nevada.
Recommendations:

The Team recommends:

• The NPO be placed organizationally under the direction of the AD, RRP, to ensure National coordination among all resource programs. The NPO would continue to be located physically in Nevada.
• The NPO establish a liaison position in the WO to coordinate communications with all BLM customers including all State Offices, National advocacy groups, Congress, the Administration, Advisory Board (if chartered), and others.
• The BLM Nevada WH&B program be separated organizationally from the National program.