Black Rock Field Office is seeking public comment on the Calico Complex Preliminary Environmental Assessment
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WINNEMUCCA, Nev — The Black Rock Field Office (BRFO) is soliciting public comment on the Calico Complex Gather Preliminary Environmental Assessment (PEA). The 30-day comment period will begin on April 14 and will end on May 13, 2021.
This PEA specifically considers and analyzes potential methods to be used to manage the wild horses and burros (WH&Bs) within the Calico Complex’s Herd Management Areas (HMAs). These HMAs include the Black Rock Range, Calico Mountains, Granite Range, McGee Mountain and Warm Springs Canyon. To this PEA, “gathers” refers to rounding up animals and “removals” refers to taking them off the range permanently. The Calico Complex is in northwest Nevada and located between Gerlach and Denio in the Humboldt and Washoe Counties.
Due to WH&B numbers in excess of the Appropriate Management Level (AML), lack of water and forage availability for the increasing herd sizes; management actions are necessary in order to prevent further deterioration of range conditions and reduce population growth rates in order to achieve and maintain AML, while providing a thriving natural ecological balance and multiple-use relationship on public lands. The appropriate AML for this complex is 572 – 952 horses and 39 – 65 burros. The current estimated population is 1692 horses and 73 burros which does not include 2021 spring foal crop.
The Preliminary EA for the Calico Complex Gather is now available and can be viewed online by following the links from the Winnemucca District's NEPA website at https://go.usa.gov/xHDRv
Hardcopies of these documents are available upon request from the Winnemucca District.
Please submit substantive comments on this PEA by close of business or postmarked by May 13, 2021. Written comments should be directed to:
Garrett Swisher, Wild Horse and Burro Specialist
BLM Black Rock Field Office
5100 E. Winnemucca Blvd.
Winnemucca, NV 89445
Comments can also be submitted by email to BLM_NV_WDO_WHB@blm.gov. Email messages should include “Calico Complex Gather” in the subject line.
Commenters should be aware before including their address, phone number, email address, or other personal identifying information in their comment, that their entire comment – including identifying information – may be made publicly available at any time. While they can ask BLM in their comment to withhold personal identifying information from public review, BLM cannot guarantee that it will be able to do so. Anonymity is not allowed for submissions from organizations or businesses and from individuals identifying themselves as representatives or officials of organizations or businesses.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.