02-24301. Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board; Meeting

AGENCY:

Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION:

Announcement of meeting.

SUMMARY:

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces that the Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board will conduct a meeting on matters pertaining to management and protection of wild, free-roaming horses and burros on the Nation's public lands.

DATES:

The advisory board will meet Monday, October 28, 2002 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. local time, and on Tuesday, October 29, 2002 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. local time.

ADDRESSES:

The Advisory Board will meet at the Best Western Salt Lake Plaza Hotel, 122 West South Temple, Salt Lake City, UT.

Written comments pertaining to the Advisory Board meeting should be sent to: Bureau of Land Management, National Wild Horse and Burro Program, WO260, Attention: Ramona Delorme, 1340 Financial Boulevard, Reno, Nevada, 89502-7147. Submit written comments pertaining to the Advisory Board meeting no later than close of business October 18, 2002. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for electronic access and filing address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Janet Nordin, Wild Horse and Burro Public Outreach Specialist, [phone]. Individuals who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may reach Ms. Nordin at any time by calling the Federal Information Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Public Meeting

Under the authority of 43 CFR part 1784, the Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board advises the Secretary of the Interior, the Director of the BLM, the Secretary of Agriculture, and the Chief, Forest Service, on matters pertaining to management and protection of wild, free-roaming horses and burros on the Nation's public lands. The tentative agenda for the meeting is:

Monday, October 28, 2002 (8 a.m.-5 p.m.)

8:00 Call to Order & Introductions

Co-chairs Comments & Housekeeping: Robin Lohnes/Gary Zakotnik

Welcoming Remarks: (BLM Director Kathleen Clark), Sally Wisely—Utah State Director, John Fend—WH&B Group Manager

Utah WH&B Program: Utah WH&B Lead (Gus Warr)

8:30 Old Business:

Approval of August 2002 Minutes: Robin Lohnes

BLM Action on August 2002 Recommendations: John Fend

2003 Nominations Update: John Fend

Break (10 a.m.-10:15 a.m.)

10:15 Program Update Report

—Strategic Plan: Tom Pogacnik

—FY '03-'04 Funding & Pipeline: John Fend

—Checks & Balances Implemented: John Fend/Tom Pogacnik

12:00 Lunch

1:30 Old Business (continued):

Update on Pending Litigation: John Fend

Status of Sonora Wild Horse: John Fend

Repatriation Project:

Break (2:30 p.m.-2:45 p.m.)

2:45 Old Business (continued):

Status of WH&B Education Program: Janet Nordin

BLM Policy on Pairs Adoption: Tom Pogacnik

Adoption Fee Discussion: Advisory Board

4:00 Public Comments: Robin Lohnes/Janet Nordin

4:45 Recap/Summary: Robin Lohnes/Pam Cleary

5-6:00 Adjourn; Roundtable to Follow: All

7:00 Dinner with BLM Staff (location TBA)

Tuesday, October 29, 2002 (8 a.m.-3 p.m.)

8:00 New Business:

Langston University Proposal: John Fend/Dr. Holloway

Chickasaw Indian Reservation Proposal: John Fend

Ephemeral HMAs Discussion: Advisory Board

Break (9:30 a.m.)

9:45 Program Update Discussion: Advisory Board

• Strategic Plan
• FY '03-'04 Funding & Pipeline
• Checks & Balances

11:00 Board Recommendations: Robin Lohnes/Pam Cleary

12:00 Lunch

1:00 Board Recommendations (continued): Robin Lohnes/Pam Cleary

Report to Congress: Robin Lohnes/Gary Zakotnik

Next Meeting/Date/Site

3:00 Adjourn

The meeting site is accessible to individuals with disabilities. An individual with a disability needing an auxiliary aid or service to participate in the meeting, such as interpreting service, assistive listening device, or materials in an alternate format, must notify the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT two weeks before the scheduled meeting date. Although the BLM will attempt to meet a request received after that date, the requested auxiliary aid or service may not be available because of insufficient time to arrange it.

The Federal advisory committee management regulations [41 CFR 101-6.1015(b),] require BLM to publish, in the Federal Register, notice of a meeting 15 days prior to the meeting date.

II. Public Comment Procedures

Members of the public may make oral statements to the Advisory Board on October 28, 2002, at the appropriate point in the agenda. This opportunity is anticipated to occur at 4 p.m. local time. Persons wishing to make statements should register with the BLM by noon October 28, 2002, at the meeting location. Depending on the number of speakers, the Advisory Board may limit the length of presentations. At previous meetings, presentations have been limited to three minutes in length. Speakers should address the specific wild horse and burro-related topics listed on the agenda. Speakers must submit a written copy of their statement to the address listed in the ADDRESSES section or bring a written copy to the meeting.

Participation in the Advisory Board meeting is not a prerequisite for submission of written comments. The BLM invites written comments from all interested parties. Your written comments should be specific and explain the reason for any recommendation. The BLM appreciates any and all comments, but those most useful and likely to influence decisions on management and protection of wild horses and burros are those that are either supported by quantitative information or studies or those that include citations to and analysis of applicable laws and regulations. Except for comments provided in electronic format, speakers should submit two copies of their written comments where feasible. The BLM will not necessarily consider comments received after the time indicated under the DATES section or at locations other than that listed in the ADDRESSES section.

In the event there is a request under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) for a copy of your comments, the BLM will make them available in their entirety, including your name and address. However, if you do not want the BLM to release your name and address in response to a FOIA request, you must state this prominently at the beginning of your comment. BLM will honor your request to the extent allowed by law. BLM will release all submissions from organizations or businesses, and from individuals identifying themselves as representatives or officials of organizations or businesses, in their entirety, including names and addresses.

Electronic Access and Filing Address

Speakers may transmit comments electronically via the Internet to: [e-mail]. Please include the identifier “WH&B” in the subject of your message and your name and address in the body of your message.

Dated: September 19, 2002.

Sharon L. Kipping,

Acting Group Manager, Wild Horse and Burro Group.