BLM Statement Regarding Decision of Utah Department of Corrections
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The BLM's Utah State Office has valued our relationship with the Utah Department of Corrections and we regret that it has decided to terminate the Wild Horse Inmate Program (WHIP) at Gunnison. This program has aided in the rehabilitation of inmates and has, through the gentling of horses, helped place animals into good, private care.UDC's decision will complicate national efforts to make sure there is enough off-range holding capacity for wild horses and burros removed from public rangelands and it will force BLM-Utah to place virtually all of the 1,126 Gunnison horses in facilities outside of Utah.BLM-Utah has worked closely with Utah Correctional Industries for more than a year to resolve the financial issues set forth in the audit conducted by the Interior Department's Office of Inspector General, which issued its findings in September 2013.The BLM estimates that it has overpaid UCI by approximately $2 million. The agency is in the process of securing an outside, independent audit to verify this figure.
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.