United States Department of the Interior ee? = BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT TAKE PRIDE" National Wild Horse and Burro Program Office ; P.O. Box 12000 (1340 Financial Blvd.) nme Reno, Nev 89520-0006 iweb gov September 25, 2009 RECEIVED In Reply Refer To: SEP. 2 8 2009 4700 (WO-260) Se SCOPINGLETTER DILLON FIELD OFFICE Ennis, Montana Proposed Long-Term Holding Pasture For Excess Wild Horses Dear Interested Party: ‘The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is proposing to operate and maintain a long-term holding (LTH) pasture for a maximum of 1,500 excess wild horses on approximately 15,600 acres of private land (known as the Spanish Q Ranch). The lands are owned or controlled by a BLM-selected contractor in Madison County, immediately north and west of Ennis, Montana (see map). The facility would be called the Ennis LTH Pasture. As part of the proposal, public (BLM) lands within the ranch perimeter would be fenced to exclude use by wild horses. Approximately 13 miles of new fence construction would be required. ‘The proposed new fences would be constructed to meet the fence specifications in the contract. These specifications were developed to assure wild horses do not stray outside the LTH Pasture, ‘The specifications require a 4- strand fence with the top wire at a height of 48” and a 12” spacing between the four wires. The majority of the existing fences already meet this standard. Excess wild horses would be expected to begin arriving at the LTH Pasture in about December 2009. Long-term holding pastures are designed to provide unadoptable wild horses, with humane, life-long care in a natural setting, off the public rangelands. Wild horses that have not been adopted because of age or ‘ther factors have been placed on private land sanctuaries in Oklahoma, Kansas and South Dakota in the past. The BLM Dillon Resource Area staff is working with the National WH&B Program Office to prepare an environmental assessment which will analyze the potential environmental impacts associated with grazing wild horses as compared to cattle on private property. As part of the environmental analysis, BLM is asking interested parties to identify any concerns you may have about the proposed Ennis LTH Pasture for excess wild horses. Please submit your written comments to: Susie Stokke BLM - National Wild Horse and Burro (WH&B) Program PO Box 12000 Reno, NV 89520-0006 sstokke@bim,gov Comments should be emailed or postmarked no later than October 16, 2009.‘The expected decision date for the Ennis LTH Pasture is about November 1, 2009, If you have any questions or would like additional information, please call Susie Stokke at (775) 861- 6623. Sincerely, (sf Susie’ Susie Stokke National Wild Horse and Burro Program Specialist Enclosure Project Location Map Questions and AnswersQuestions and Answers What is BLM proposing? BLM is proposing to operate and maintain a LTH Pasture for a maximum of 1,500 excess wild horses on private land owned or controlled by a BLM-selected contractor on about 15,600 acres in Madison County, about one mile north and west of Ennis, Montana. As part of the Proposed Action, approximately 13 miles of new fence construction would be constructed to meet the fence specifications in the contract. These specifications were developed to assure wild horses do not stray outside the LTH Pasture. The specifications require a 4-strand fence with the top wire ata height of 48” and a 12” spacing between the four wires. Why is the LTH Pasture for excess wild horses proposed? Long-term holding pastures are designed to provide unadoptable wild horses, with humane, life-long care in a natural setting, off the public rangelands. Wild horses that have not been adopted because of age or other factors have been placed on private land sanctuaries in Oklahoma, Kansas and South Dakota in the past. What is BLM asking the public to do? BLM is asking interested parties to identify any concerns you may have about the proposed Ennis LTH Pasture for excess wild horses. Please submit your written comments no later than October 16, 2009 to: Susie Stokke BLM - National Wild Horse and Burro Program PO Box 12000 Reno, NV 89520-0006 sstokke@blm.gov What will BLM’s environmental assessment analyze? BLM’s environmental assessment will analyze the potential environmental impacts associated with grazing wild horses as compared to cattle on the private land owned or controlled by the BLM-selected contractor. What is the decision to be made? The decision to be made is whether to release the funding necessary to operate and maintain the Ennis LTH Pasture. When will the decision be made? Who will make the decision? A decision will be made about November 1, 2009. The decision will be made by the authorized officer (Don Glenn, Division Chief, National Wild Horse and Burro Program).