Wyoming groups can help shape program affecting the state

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Mike Enzi, John Barrasso and Representative Cynthia Lummis, all R-Wyo., are working to allow Wyoming stakeholders more time to give their input on changes to the wild horse program being developed by the Department of the Interior (DOI).

The Wyoming delegation sent a letter on July 22 to DOI Secretary Ken Salazar requesting that the current deadline of Aug. 3, which only allowed 60 days for comment during the state’s busiest time of year, be extended an additional 60 days. This extension would allow Wyoming’s stakeholders more opportunity to comment on the Wild Horse and Burro Strategy Development Document.

“The summer months are some of the busiest for key stakeholders in Wyoming, including those active in ranching, tourism, business, natural resource management and local government. We respectfully request that the Department extend the current 60 day comment period. This will ensure that the Department is able to collect the type of diverse stakeholder comment that is necessary to encourage an open, positive dialogue with the public on this matter,” the delegation wrote.

The delegation also asked that Secretary Salazar host public workshops in rural areas most affected by wild horses, specifically in southwestern Wyoming. This would further help develop the program, which previously offered only one public workshop on the new proposal in Denver on June 14. More workshops would allow those with limited resources and time to travel more opportunity to give input.

In October 2009, Secretary Salazar announced his plans to make improvements to the Wild Horse and Burro Program. A proposal was released in June 2010 which asked that groups have 60 days to give comment on the issue. The Bureau of Land Management estimates that there were more than 5,000 wild horses in Wyoming in 2009.

To read the full letter, click here.

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