Guidance for the Sale of Excess Wild Horses and Burros

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20240

http://www.blm.gov

May 24, 2018

Superseded by IM 2019-026

Reply Refer To:
4750 (260) P

EMS TRANSMISSION 07/03/2018
Instruction Memorandum No. 2018-066
Expires: 09/30/2021

To:                          All Field Office Officials

From:                     Assistant Director, Resources and Planning

Subject:                 Guidance for the Sale of Excess Wild Horses and Burros

Program Area: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Wild Horse and Burro Program.

Purpose:   This Instruction Memorandum (IM) outlines policies and procedures concerning the sale of wild horses and burros.  The intent of this IM is to provide guidance relating to the sale of excess animals to individuals, companies and organizations.  This IM supersedes IM No.  2014-132, Guidance for the Sale of Wild Horses and Burros.

Policy/Action:  Effective immediately, all facilities and state, district, and field offices must comply with the policies and guidance set forth in this IM.  To increase the number of sale-eligible animals in off-range corrals open to the public, BLM’s policy is to offer animals that are 10 years or younger for adoption three times within six months from either the issuance date of this policy or the animal’s preparation date.  In addition, all BLM-managed corrals open to the public, should conduct monthly facility adoptions (creating events according to WHB Sale Program guidance), in which they offer freeze-marked animals under eleven years of age for adoption that have current vaccinations (except those being returned to the range, participating in research, or other special events).

Below are points from the Guidance for Selling Excess Wild Horses and Burros (Attachment 1):

● Defines the criteria that makes an animal sale-eligible, including animal age, definition of an event, and the animal's body condition;

● Describes the preparation requirements for sale-eligible animals including freeze marking, vaccinations, and animal identification;

● Outlines the steps of the sales process and requirements for purchasers and the BLM;

● Explains the Wild Horse and Burro Program System (WHBPS) data entry requirements and reports;

● Lists the project code and sales sub-activity codes for sales; and

● Provides guidance for selling animals to BLM employees or contractors.

The required paperwork to effectuate a sale includes the Application for Adoption and/or Sale of Wild Horses and Burros (Attachment 2) and the Bill of Sale for Wild Horses and Burros (Attachment 3).

Timeframe:  This IM is effective immediately.

Budget Impact:  The budget impacts of this policy will reduce off-range holding costs and allow for remaining available funds to support critical on-range operations.

Background:  On December 8, 2004, the Department of the Interior Fiscal Year (FY) 2005 Omnibus Appropriation Act (PL 108-447, Division E, Title 1, Section 142) amended the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act (Public Law 92-195) and directed the sale of wild horses and burros that meet specific criteria.  From FY 2010 to present, Congress has included the following appropriations language prohibiting the use of federal funds to conduct unrestricted sales: 

“Appropriations herein made shall not be available for the destruction of healthy, unadopted, wild horses and burros in the care of the Bureau of Land Management or its contractors or for the sale of wild horses and burros that results in their destruction for processing into commercial products.”

The BLM issued initial sales policy in 2005, interim sales policy in December 2012, and updated the policy in August 2014.  This policy was developed to provide a process where efforts are made to ensure animals will not be processed into commercial products so long as the Congressional appropriations prohibitions remain in place.

Manual/Handbook Sections Affected:  This IM supersedes previous guidance found in IM No. 2005-101, Direction for the Sale of Wild Horses and Burros; IM No. 2013-032, Direction for the Sale of Wild Horses and Burros – Interim Guidance; and IM No. 2014-132, Guidance for the Sale of Wild Horses and Burros.

Coordination:  This policy was coordinated with the WHB State Leads and Specialists, the United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Veterinarian, and the Washington Office WHB Program Staff which all possess diversified experience.  The policy was reviewed by the Office of the Solicitor, Associate State Directors, and the Office of Communications. 

Contact: Questions concerning this policy should be directed to Holle' Waddell, Branch Chief, Wild Horse and Burro Program Off-Range at (405) 579-1860 or by email at hwaddell@blm.gov.

 

Signed by:                                      Authenticated by:

Kristin Bail                                    Robert M. Williams

Assistant Director                          Division of IT Policy and Planning,WO-870

Resources and Planning

 

3 Attachments

     1 – Guidance for Selling Wild Horses and Burros (6 pp)

     2 – Application for Adoption and/or Sale of Wild Horses and Burros (4 pp)

     3 – Bill of Sale for Wild Horses and Burros (2 pp)