Bureau of Land Management seeks public comment on Pancake Complex Wild Horse Gather Plan Environmental Assessment

Organization:

Bureau of Land Management

BLM Office:

Caliente Field Office

Media Contact:

ELY, Nev. – The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Ely District announces the availability of a preliminary Environmental Assessment (EA) to address potential environmental consequences associated with excess wild horses within and outside of the Pancake Complex of herd management areas located in Nye and White Pine counties. The preliminary 10-year Wild Horse Gather EA will be available for public review and comment for a period of 30 days. 

The action is needed in order to reduce impacts to rangeland health and wildlife habitat within complex boundaries. The EA will be used to facilitate gathers, removals and fertility control of excess wild horses in accordance with 43 CFR 4700 regulation and the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971, as amended (Public Law 92-195). The Appropriate Management Level for the Pancake Complex is 361 to 638 horses.

The Pancake Complex consists of the Sand Springs West and Pancake Herd Management Areas (HMAs), Jakes Wash Herd Area (HA) and Monte Cristo Wild Horse Territory (WHT). The BLM Battle Mountain District, Tonopah Field Office administers the Sand Springs West HMA. The BLM Ely District Office administers the Pancake HMA and Jakes Wash HA. The Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, Ely Ranger District administers the Monte Cristo WHT.

A 30-day public comment period on the preliminary environmental assessment is set for Nov. 12, 2020 through Dec. 12, 2020. The public is encouraged to review the EA, located at: https://go.usa.gov/x7RUa and provide substantive comments or concerns, prior to 4:30 p.m. (PST) on Dec. 12, 2020. All comments received will be fully considered and evaluated for preparation of the final EA.

Comments and concerns may be emailed to: blm_nv_ely_pancakecomplex_wildhorsegatherea@blm.gov or sent in writing to the Bureau of Land Management Ely District Office, 702 N. Industrial Way, Ely, NV 89301 Attn: Ben Noyes, Wild Horse and Burro Specialist. Hardcopies of the EA can be made available, upon request, by calling the BLM Ely District Office at (775) 289-1800.

Before including your address, phone number, email address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment, including your personal identifying information, may be publicly available at any time. While you can ask that your personal identifying information be withheld from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. Anonymity is not allowed for submissions from organizations or businesses and from individuals identifying themselves as representatives or officials of organizations or businesses.


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.