03-12680. 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, June 16, 2003, from 8 a.m., to 5 p.m., local time, and on Tuesday, June 17, 2003, from 8 a.m., to 3 p.m., local time.

ADDRESSES:

The Advisory Board will meet at the Sheraton Billings Hotel, 27 N. 27th Street, Billings, MT, phone [phone].

Written comments pertaining to the Advisory Board meeting should be sent to: Bureau of Land Management, National Wild Horse and Burro Program, WO 260, 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 June 6, 2003. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for electronic access and filing address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Janet Nordin, Wild Horse and Burro Public Outreach Specialist, 775-861-6583. 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, June 16, 2003 (8 a.m.-5 p.m.)

8 a.m.—Call to Order & Introductions:

8:15 a.m.—Old Business:

8:45 a.m.—Program Update

9 a.m.—Status of WH&B Strategic Plan

9:30 a.m.—Break

9:45 a.m.—Old Business (continued):

10:45 a.m.—Report on “Reaching AML by 2005: A Mid-Course Review

12:30 p.m.—Lunch

1:30 p.m.—Old Business (continued):

2:30 p.m.—Break

2:45 p.m.—Old Business (continued):

4 p.m.—Public Comments

4:45 p.m.—Recap/Summary

5-6 p.m.—Adjourn: Roundtable Discussion

Tuesday, June 17, 2003 (8 a.m.-3 p.m.)

8 a.m.—New Business:

Break—(9:45 a.m.-10 a.m.)

10 a.m.—Organizational Discussion on Advisory Board Hosted Symposium

12 p.m.—Lunch

1 p.m.—Board Recommendations

2:30 p.m.—Next Meeting/Date/Site

3 p.m.—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 June 16, 2003, 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 June 16, 2003, 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. The BLM will honor your request to the extent allowed by law. The 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: May 15, 2003.

Bud Cribley,

Acting Deputy Assistant Director, Renewable Resources and Planning.