Annual public hearing on aircraft and motorized vehicle use for wild horse management set in Craig
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CRAIG, Colo. – The Bureau of Land Management is conducting its annual public hearing to discuss the use of motorized vehicles and aircraft for monitoring and managing wild horses on public lands in Colorado. The meeting will be held August 2 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the BLM Little Snake Field Office, 455 Emerson St. in Craig.
A public hearing is required before helicopters or motorized vehicles can be used in wild horse management in order to comply with Section 404 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act.
The BLM plans to use helicopters, fixed wing aircrafts and other motorized vehicles to estimate population numbers and obtain seasonal distribution information for wild horse herds throughout Colorado. While no wild horse gathers are expected over the next year in Colorado, the hearing will cover using helicopters to assist in gathering excess wild horses should a gather be planned.
The hearing will also consider the use of motorized vehicles to transport gathered wild horses as well as to conduct field monitoring activities.
-BLM-
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.