The Bureau of Land Management issues Decision on the Marietta Herd Management Wild Burro Gather Environmental Assessment
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CARSON CITY, Nev. — The Carson City District, Stillwater Field Office has issued the Decision and Final Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Marietta Herd Management Area (HMA). The preliminary 10-year Wild Burro Gather EA will occur in the southern Mineral County along the state highway 360 corridor and extending northwest towards Hawthorne, Nevada.
The Decision is to reduce impacts to rangeland health and wildlife habitat inside and outside of the Marietta HMA. The EA will be used to facilitate gathers, and removals of excess wild burros from within and outside of the HMA to achieve the appropriate management level (AML) of 78-104 burros and implement a range of fertility controls to maintain the population within AML over a period of up to 10 years in accordance with 43 CFR 4700 regulation and the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971, as amended (Public Law 92-195). In 2021 and 2022, BLM conducted aerial census flights; as a result, BLM estimates the current burro population to be 450-500 burros. The EA analyzed the direct, indirect, and cumulative effects from implementation of the project. A 30-day public review period was held from July 22 to August 22.
“The BLM’s priority is to conduct a safe, efficient, and successful burro gather operation while ensuring humane care and treatment of all animals gathered,” said Stillwater Field Office Manager, Jake Vialpando.
The EA, finding of no significant impact and decision record are available on the project webpage for review at https://go.usa.gov/xuxxA. Refer to the decision record for appeal procedures. Should you have any questions or access issues, email blm_nv_ccdowebmail@blm.gov or call 775-885-6000.
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.