BLM seeks public comment on proposed wild horse management in the Confusion Herd Management Area
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FILLMORE, Utah — The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Fillmore Field Office is seeking public comment on a Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) analyzing a wild horse gather, removal, and use of population growth suppression in the Confusion Herd Management Area (HMA). The public comment period is open for 30 days.
The Confusion HMA is located in Juab and Millard Counties, about 30 miles north of Garrison, Utah. It consists of approximately 235,005 acres of public and other land. The Appropriate Management Level (AML) for this HMA is 70-115 wild horses. As of March 1, 2020, the HMA has an estimated population of 551 wild horses, nearly five times above the AML upper limit.
The EA analyzes a proposal to gather and remove excess wild horses in the vicinity of the HMA. The BLM proposes to remove excess horses down to AML for a variety of reasons including resource impacts related to restoring a thriving natural ecological balance and multiple use relationship on the public lands, habitat improvements, and actions necessary to improve Utah Rangeland Health Standards in the area impacted by the overpopulation of horses.
Written comments will be accepted until July 27, 2020. Please note that the most useful comments are specific and contain new technical or scientific information relevant to the proposed action. Comments which contain only opinions or preferences will not receive a formal response but may be considered in the BLM decision-making process. Please reference “Confusion Herd Management Area” when submitting comments.
Written comments may be submitted via the following methods:
BLM Fillmore Field Office
Attn: Trent Staheli
95 East 500 North
Fillmore, UT 84631
ePlanning website
Before including an address, phone number, email address, or other personally identifiable information in any comments, be aware that the entire comment—including personal identifying information—may be made publicly available at any time. Requests to withhold personal identifying information from public review can be submitted, but the BLM cannot guarantee that it will be able to do so.
For additional information, please contact Trent Staheli at (435) 743-3164. Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf may call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1-800-877-8339 to leave a message or question for the above individual. The FRS is available 24 hours aday, seven days a week. Replies are provided during normal business hours.
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.