[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 9 (Thursday, January 13, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 2191]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-795]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[MT019-1060-DH]
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Amendment to the Billings Resource
Area Management Plan and Revision of the Herd Management Area Plan,
Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range, MT
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an amendment to the Billings
Resource Area Management Plan in order to establish an appropriate
management level for wild horses, based on the results of eight years
of ecological research studies on population genetics and ecosystem
modelling. This research represents a synthesis of important issues
pertaining to a landscape scale, interdisciplinary evaluation of the
effects of wild horses and native ungulates on the rugged Pryor
Mountain ecosystem. In addition, the existing 1984 Pryor Mountain Wild
Horse Range, Herd Management Area Plan, and the subsequent 1992
Revision, will be revised to update the management of these horses and
to consider issues pertaining to public safety and commercial use
within the Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range.
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SUMMARY: An RMP Amendment/Environmental Assessment will be prepared to
establish the appropriate management level for the number of horses in
the Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Herd. This amendment will incorporate
results of eight years of ecological research studies on population
genetics and ecosystem modelling. Specific studies addressed
competitive interactions between the three ungulates inhabiting the
area (Bighorn sheep, mule deer, and wild horses), the effects of all
ungulates on the vegetation, the conservation genetics of the wild
horses and simulations of the predicted effects of different wild horse
management scenarios. These efforts resulted from a comprehensive
interagency approach involving six agencies including the Bureau of
Land Management, National Park Service, U.S. Geological Survey, Montana
Dept. of Fish, Wildlife and Parks, Wyoming Game and Fish Department,
and the U.S. Forest Service. Major research direction and effort came
from the U.S. Geological Survey and Natural Resources Ecology Lab,
Colorado State University with participating efforts from Montana State
University and the University of Kentucky.
In addition, the Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range, Herd Management
Area Plan, will be revised. Based on previously stated public concern
and input, the planned revision will consider issues pertaining to, but
not necessarily limited to: long-term preservation of the genetic
viability of the Pryor Mountain herd; maintaining an ecological balance
within the Pryor ecosystem; use of immunocontraceptive (fertility
control) techniques for population control within the wild horse herd;
range expansion efforts in order to support a genetically viable wild
horse herd; management of existing and/or proposed water sources within
the Pryors while considering impacts on horse and wildlife distribution
and forage use; permanent road closures in an effort to create retreat
areas for wildlife; road improvements on the Pryor horse range for
reasons of public safety; limiting indiscriminate shooting on the Pryor
horse range for reasons of public safety; and options for controlling
future commercialization of the Pryors.
DATES: The Billings Field Office, Bureau of Land Management, plans to
hold public scoping meetings, in order to provide opportunities for
public comment, during late March 2000. Tentatively, meetings are
scheduled for Billings, Montana on March 29 and Lovell, Wyoming on
March 30, 2000. Details, regarding planned locations and specific times
for these meetings, will be published in local news releases. Any
issues, concerns, additional information, or alternatives should be
submitted to the BLM at the address below on or before April 7, 2000.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sandra S. Brooks, Field Manager, or
Linda Coates-Markle, Wild Horse and Burro Specialist, BLM, PO BOX
36800, 5001 Southgate Drive, Billings, Montana 59107 or 406-896-5013.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Listings, and a brief summary of the above
stated research efforts pertaining to the Pryor Mountain Wild Horse
Range, may be requested at the above address. Final reports for all
research studies should be available to the BLM by mid-February 2000
and this information will then be available to public members upon
request. This research represents the ``best available information''
which currently exists with respect to the Pryor Mountain Wild Horse
Range. If other documents exist, which public members wish to identify
for consideration during the revision process, please provide a copy to
the Billings Field Office (address above), on or before April 7, 2000.
Dated: January 7, 2000.
Larry E. Hamilton,
State Director.
[FR Doc. 00-795 Filed 1-12-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-$$-P
